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Untitled Document
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 A Message from Nora Callahan,
Executive Director
My brother, Gary Callahan, had been imprisoned for about seven
years when he asked me to organize prisoners with their loved
ones to oppose the drug war. That was 1997, and by that time
I'd learned that a five-year prison sentence was considered crushing
in any other country, and our nation was just about to take title
of World's Leading Jailer. My brother had 22 such crushing years
left to serve. His drug prosecution and the sentenced imposed
on him - quite simply - broke my heart. If you are the loved
one of a prisoner, you know firsthand this agony, the feelings
of helplessness, confusion and shame.
 Today I work
on my brother's behalf and on behalf of more than a half million
souls, in what I lament publicly as struggling to survive
in our nation'sgulags. I work on behalf of those who have
been released from prison to broken and dispersed families, who
will forever carry the stigma of drug-felon, but I do not work
alone. In unity, the November Coalition, growing from the true
concerns of thousands of people, toils to protect the future
of our nation's children and obtain freedom for imprisoned drug
law violators nationwide.
 A
drug arrest in any family quickly becomes a frightening introduction
to conspiracy statutes, government's liberal use of informants,
guideline-sentencing laws, and the nightmare usually leaves defendant
and family confused and full of despair. Long-term imprisonment
has dramatic effects on personality and personal relationships.
Prisoners suffer from severe restrictions on their human and
constitutional rights, and all of these difficulties exact a
toll on both the prisoner and those who love them.
November Coalition was founded so drug war prisoners and their
loved ones could have a voice in the demand for drug policy reform.
Loved ones and prisoners are leaving shadows of shame and isolation
to publicly tell our stories of injustice. As well as a medium
that reaches a world-wide audience with our appeal for reform
and drug war prisoner release, our website can serve as a resource
for you. Our projects are designed for group and individual participation
so that all of our members can be involved, working together
to change the laws that imprison those we love.
Please join our organization. We are dedicated to abolishing
destructive prohibition laws whose enforcement does far more
harm than any intended good. Our loved ones must return to their
homes and families that miss them, where they are needed and
where they belong.
In Struggle,
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