The U.S. 'war on drugs' meets the 'war on terror': Lawless killings overseas while communities suffer at home

When? Wednesday, September 2, 2026 - 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM ET

Where? The Church Center for the United Nations, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York City – registration free but registration for entry: register here.

September marks one year since the U.S. began its lawless campaign of boat strikes and murder in the Caribbean in the name of counter “narcoterrorism.” It also marks 25 years since the U.S. government declared a global “War on Terror.”

Join the Drug Policy Alliance and the Center for Constitutional Rights for an important conversation on the intersection: The U.S. “War on Drugs” Meets the “War on Terror”: Lawless Killings Overseas While Communities Suffer at Home. Kassandra Frederique, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, and Vincent Warren, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, will be in conversation on how the merging of these two political frameworks has justified the extraordinary abuse of governmental power, while serving as a distraction from the administration's actions gutting essential public health services that not only save lives from addiction and overdose but guarantee dignity for all.

The Trump administration has firmly shifted U.S. drug policy away from a public health response toward a military approach to the so-called “War on Drugs.” Drugs are being treated as threats to national security that justify the suspension of due process, defiance of international law, and the murder of civilians at will. The costs of this approach are glaring: over a billion dollars in federal funding has been slashed from addiction treatment, prevention, recovery, and healthcare, all while the federal government expands funding for military force and escalates conflicts overseas.

Recognizing how these “counterterrorism” frameworks are used to justify state violence is an important step toward resisting them, ensuring accountability for state actions that exceed legal and constitutional bounds, and reinvesting the billions of dollars wasted on war into our communities to create real safety and security.
Registration is free but required for entry. Registration information will be shared with event organizers (Drug Policy Alliance and Center for Constitutional Rights).