Community recalls devastation of crack Event mourns losses of life and stolen futures

Community recalls devastation of crack
Event mourns losses of life and stolen futures

April 10, 2011|By Meghan E. Irons, Globe Staff

One man recalled selling it to his best friend’s father. A woman watched her husband fall further into its grips. A nurse recounted caring for babies born addicted to it.

Twenty-five years after crack cocaine swept across this city, destroying families and neighborhoods, Bostonians say they are still reeling from its deadly legacy. Yesterday more than 100 people came together at Hibernian Hall in Dudley Square to mourn the lives, the years, and the friends they lost.

“Crack cocaine came and infiltrated our community like [Hurricane] Katrina,’’ said Leonard Lee, a 52-year-old from Dorchester who works with drug and violence prevention issues for the city. “It got rid of all our moral values.’’

FULL STORY HERE
http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-10/news/29403983_1_powder-cocaine-crack-cocaine-families-against-mandatory-minimums

READ MORE - Community recalls devastation of crack Event mourns losses of life and stolen futures

Dot tot found with 17 bags of crack

Dot tot found with 17 bags of crack

(crack cocaine in plastic bags - general photo)
By O’Ryan Johnson | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Coverage

A 3-year-old girl in a Dorchester day care complained yesterday that the pink Nike Air Jordan on her left foot was tight, but the teacher discovered the problem wasn’t the shoe.

It was the 17 baggies of crack cocaine stuffed inside, police said.

The teacher notified the principal, who called the cops. When the girl’s mother arrived at the ABCD Walnut Grove Headstart program on Elm Hill Avenue, she told police the girl had complained that morning that her foot hurt, but her mom loosened the laces and shipped her off to school.

She told cops she hadn’t noticed the bags inside the girl’s shoes at the time.

Police said they tracked down Demare Gary, 19, of Roxbury, a relative.

He admitted to stashing the crack in the girl’s shoe the previous evening, cops said.

Gary was charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in a school zone. The girl’s name was not released.

Police said a complaint was filed with the Department of Children and Families. Calls to the program’s business number last night after hours were not immediately returned.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1296654

READ MORE - Dot tot found with 17 bags of crack