sweetpea
11-10-2004, 10:29 PM
Monday, November 8th, 2004
15 To Life: Artist, Prisoner and Author Tony Papa Tells How He Painted His
Way to Freedom
We speak with painter and anti-drug-war activist Tony Papa about his new
book, "15 To Life: How I Painted My Way to Freedom" which tells the story of
how he spent 12 years in prison for his first and only criminal offense.
As much of the attention of the nation and in the media focuses in on the US
offensive in Fallujah, there is another war that has been raging in the US
for decades and that is the war on drugs.
Newly-released data from the Justice Department shows the number of women in
state and federal prisons has topped 100,000 for the first time. The new
figures show the incarceration rate is growing much faster for women than
men. Meanwhile the overall prison population is continuing to increase,
despite a drop or leveling off in the crime rate in the past few years.
Longer sentences - especially for drug crimes - and fewer prisoners granted
parole or probation are main reasons for the expanding U.S. prison
population.
The new data comes a week after New York voters in Albany elected David
Soares as the county's new district attorney. Soares gained national
attention for campaigning on a platform of reforming the state's harsh
Rockefeller drug laws. The Drug Policy Alliance hailed Soares victory as a
sign that candidates can run and win on a platform that calls for sensible
drug law reform.
We are joined today by celebrated anti-drug-war activist, author, painter
and ex-convict Tony Papa.
He has a new book out called "15 to Life: How I Painted My Way to Freedom."
It tells the story of how Tony Papa agreed to deliver an envelope of cocaine
in a police sting operation in return for $500. His first and only criminal
offense cost Papa a 15-year sentence to Sing-Sing, New York State's
maximum-security prison. He began painting in prison. When one of his works
was selected for exhibition at the Whitney Museum, Papa received intense
media attention. After 12 years of hard time, he was granted clemency by
Governor Pataki. Since his release, Papa has become a noted activist against
draconian drug laws. He joins us in our studio today.
Anthony Papa, Anti-drug-war activist, painter and author. His news book is
"15 to Life: How I Painted My Way to Freedom." <http://www.15tolife.com>
15 To Life: Artist, Prisoner and Author Tony Papa Tells How He Painted His
Way to Freedom
We speak with painter and anti-drug-war activist Tony Papa about his new
book, "15 To Life: How I Painted My Way to Freedom" which tells the story of
how he spent 12 years in prison for his first and only criminal offense.
As much of the attention of the nation and in the media focuses in on the US
offensive in Fallujah, there is another war that has been raging in the US
for decades and that is the war on drugs.
Newly-released data from the Justice Department shows the number of women in
state and federal prisons has topped 100,000 for the first time. The new
figures show the incarceration rate is growing much faster for women than
men. Meanwhile the overall prison population is continuing to increase,
despite a drop or leveling off in the crime rate in the past few years.
Longer sentences - especially for drug crimes - and fewer prisoners granted
parole or probation are main reasons for the expanding U.S. prison
population.
The new data comes a week after New York voters in Albany elected David
Soares as the county's new district attorney. Soares gained national
attention for campaigning on a platform of reforming the state's harsh
Rockefeller drug laws. The Drug Policy Alliance hailed Soares victory as a
sign that candidates can run and win on a platform that calls for sensible
drug law reform.
We are joined today by celebrated anti-drug-war activist, author, painter
and ex-convict Tony Papa.
He has a new book out called "15 to Life: How I Painted My Way to Freedom."
It tells the story of how Tony Papa agreed to deliver an envelope of cocaine
in a police sting operation in return for $500. His first and only criminal
offense cost Papa a 15-year sentence to Sing-Sing, New York State's
maximum-security prison. He began painting in prison. When one of his works
was selected for exhibition at the Whitney Museum, Papa received intense
media attention. After 12 years of hard time, he was granted clemency by
Governor Pataki. Since his release, Papa has become a noted activist against
draconian drug laws. He joins us in our studio today.
Anthony Papa, Anti-drug-war activist, painter and author. His news book is
"15 to Life: How I Painted My Way to Freedom." <http://www.15tolife.com>