and additional support from the miicent and eugene bell foundation.up at wgbh access.wgbh.org >> for more on this and other "frontline" programs, visit our website at pbs.org/frontline. ♪ frontline's, "plastic wars" is available on amazon prime video. ♪ ♪ you're watching pbs. ♪ - [narrator] this video went viral, but it's not unique. incidents like this can be found in every corner of america, from major cities to small towns. punitive discipline creates a disproportnate criminalization of black girls, and disrupts one of the most important factors in their lives, education. - i would like for schools to become locationsin the most for heso they can become locations for learning. - [announcer] pushout: the criminalizationla of b girls in schools is made possible by the novo foundation, the ford foundation ju films, and the meadow fund. additional support by t following: (relaxed music)

and additional support from the millicent and eugene bell foundation. (water burbling) >> laura sullivan: in 2015, a marine biologist came across a sea turtle in distress. i don't want to pull it too hard. >> yeah, i mean, it's bleeding already. oh, poor baby. i'm sorry. (bleep) (bleep) christ. that is plastico. oh, man. >> that's plastic. >> don't tell me it's a freaking straw. i >>t's just freaking... va >> sullin: her video of the encounter quickly went viral. >> this poor sea turtle. tr>> sullivan: it would atact more than 35 million views. action.ecame a rallying cry for >> sullivan: and focused public attention on a growing problem. >> that turtle video certainly did have an impact. >> plastic pollution: a planetary crisis. >> sullivan: plaics in the decades.ave been building up for >> in an underwater paradise, a plastic nightmare. s sullivan: recurring ima dead whales... >> 80 plastic bags found inside the whale. >> sullivan: bloated seabirds... >> oh. >> sullivan: ...and littered waterways have fueled a global anti-plastic movement. >> enemy nu