Abolish Police, ICE, and Prisons have become more popular demands in recent years but abolition is a movement with a long history. From Black abolitionists who fought and resisted slavery in a variety of ways to prison abolitionists and advocates of abolition democracy today, abolition has been a longstanding movement. With more mainstream coverage, though, comes cooptation into reformist goals. We must remain steadfast in our commitment to ending policing and imprisonment and to building the alternatives for healthy and dignified lives for our communities. (This list is adapted from abolitionistfutures.com) Pieces that are bolded are those we recommend you start out with.
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Articles
Short primer article explaining what we mean by abolition and the prison industrial complex.
‘Police “Reforms” You Should Always Oppose’ by Mariame Kaba A simple guide for evaluating any suggested “reforms” of U.S. policing.
Reformist Reforms vs Abolitionist Steps in Policing Critical Resistance‘Police “Reforms” You Should Always Oppose’ by Mariame Kaba
Visual diagram that breaks down the difference between reformist reforms which continue or expand the reach of policing, and abolitionist steps that work to chip away and reduce its overall impact.
Statement on Gender Violence and the Prison Industrial Complex by Critical Resistance and INCITE! Women of Color Against ViolenceReformist Reforms vs Abolitionist Steps in Policing Critical Resistance
Statement connecting the Prison Industrial Complex and Gender Violence and calling for solutions that don’t rely on prisons.
Statement on Gender Violence and the Prison Industrial Complex
Books
PDF of book that provides an overall analysis of why prisons should be abolished.
If They Come in the Morning... Voices of Resistance by Angela Davis Book edited by Davis that includes letters from political prisoners, case studies, and analysis about the political nature of all prisoners.
Golden Gulag by Ruthie Wilson GilmoreIf They Come in the Morning… Voices of Resistance by Angela Davis
Book written by abolitionist Ruthie Wilson Gilmore about the growth of the California state prison system and people’s opposition to it. Golden Gulag by Ruthie Wilson Gilmore
Blood in my Eye by George Jackson Memoir written by George Jackson not long before he was killed by San Quentin prison guards. He was imprisoned at the age of eighteen and studied inside prison to become a revolutionary. Blood in my Eye by George Jackson
Videos & Podcasts
Rustbelt Abolition Radio: Native Resistance And The Carceral State Podcast episode with Nick Estes, who talks about the history of incarceration and its relation to native genocide and colonization.
Abolition & COVID-19 w/ Nicolás Cruz, Mohamed Shehk, Emmy Rakete, Ruth Wilson GilmoreRustbelt Abolition Radio: Native Resistance And The Carceral State
Recorded webinar featuring speakers from The Red Nation, Critical Resistance, Organize Aotearoa, and Ruthie Wilson Gilmore discussing abolition.
Abolition & COVID-19 w/ Nicolás Cruz, Mohamed Shehk, Emmy Rakete, Ruth Wilson Gilmore