Abolition teaches us that our struggles are interconnected — to build our movement broad and deep. In the past year, CR has made over 150 presentations to supporters, decision-makers, media and movement partners. CR members led workshops for public health allies, formerly imprisoned and systems-impacted youth, the Abolition NOW network, and more. We hosted 6 online cohorts of Intro to the Prison Industrial Complex and Abolition workshops, training 73 new members and volunteers in 2021. It's been a busy year! Thank you for helping us strengthen political unity in our movement.
Your generous support helps us build a movement full of of organizations, leaders, and supporters who make it clear that #AbolitionIsEssential -- Learn more about these efforts and partnerships in our Year End Letter HERE! Can you make a gift this month and sustain this essential organizing?
The Freedom Fridays series at our 4400 Telegraph building in North Oakland strengthened essential organizing relationships in 2021. Over 700 people have joined calls to action to Defund the Oakland Police Department (OPD), close California prisons, drop Life Without Parole sentencing, and more.
Fighting the Violence of Policing
An impactful movement alliance this year is the Defund Police coalition. In Oakland, CA, where over 50% of the city’s general fund goes to the Oakland Police Department (OPD), the Defund OPD campaign and CR Oakland are campaigning to shift power out of OPD and back into community.
CR Oakland has contributed to Defund Police coalition planning, campaign strategy, media, youth education, and outreach efforts. Read more about our recent campaign wins, coalitional partners, and how you can keep CR's work moving strongly HERE.
Sneak Preview of The Abolitionist Issue #36:What’s the Call? FREE THEM ALL - Organizing to Liberate Political Prisoners Our Winter 2021 issue of our newspaper heads to print next week, featuring articles on "Pathways toward Freedom," or strategies for getting people out of cages. Read the "sneak peek" online here, a group interview about defending and freeing political prisoners in the US and Palestine with Jericho Movement,RAPP, and Addameer Prisoner Support & Human Rights Association.
This is a new resource to build critical and intentional connections to the growing movement for the abolition of the prison industrial complex, particularly in PreK-12 learning contexts. Edited and compiled by CR and Education for Liberation Network; Published by AK Press in Fall 2021.
Fresh Colors for "Building People Power" Tote Bags!
We have a new limited winter run of "Building People Power" tote bag: red with black ink and black with gold ink! Design reflects the "Building People Power" signage by Oakland's own painter Dom Villeda.
