CR Oakland and CR Los Angeles are part of the Close California Prisons campaignwith our longtime movement partners in Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB). With an ambitious goal of closing 10 prisons by 2025, CR chapters are engaged in the campaign by working to build a base of support for prison closure across California including organizations, directly impacted people, and their loved ones and community members, all the while targeting California decision-makers and amplifying strategic media to the public.
This year, the coalition secured clear victories:
California Correctional Center, whose closure had been stalled for over a year, has finally been confirmed to close no later than June 2023, and has been emptied of prisoners since October.
After CURB and CR mobilized to Sacramento in May pushing for more closures, the enacted 2022-2023 California budget stated the possibility of closing three more prisons.
More recently, California announced the closure of Chuckawalla Prison in Blythe by 2025.
Additionally California Department of Corrections (CDCR) announced that it would end its lease with California City Correctional Facility, a private prison owned by CoreCivic, by 2024.
“When this campaign started, the possibility of achieving the campaign's goal of closing 10 prisons was questioned by many. Despite this, the Oakland and LA chapters jumped into the campaign as part of the CURB coalition, making critical contributions to all the campaign's workgroups. Critical Resistance members also helped to shape overall campaign strategy. This brings us to 3-4 prisons [named for closure]. Moreover, we also see that ideas we've been pushing about workforce development have begun to be adopted…We're transforming the California landscape!”
- Bryan, CRLA member
CR California chapters gather to discuss prison closures
CRLA hosted an event - "Closing Cages, Building Power" - this past weekend on Saturday, December 10 to connect with community members and movement partners and build power in Los Angeles for CA prison closure. This event uplifted connections between prison closures and labor struggles, and invited people to engage with internationalist analysis on labor struggles shared in Issue #38 of The Abolitionist newspaper. Thank you to everyone who came out! Check out the report back of the event on our website here.
The proposed state budget sets the stage for our advocacy throughout the year to ensure our demands are heard and implemented by the time the Enacted state budget is released in June. As a result of continual pressure and advocacy from folks inside and out of cages, it is clear our demands are breaking through to state officials. REGISTER HERE to join us on January 12 and keep this energy up!
Eager to take another step for prison closure? Send a quick email letter urging the CA Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom hold CDCR responsible in naming additional prison closures in 2023!
Whether or not you're based in California, donate today to support CR fight imprisonment! Every penny helps us chip away at the prison industrial complex.
In struggle and solidarity,
-Critical Resistance
More Announcements
Connect with CR this December: Support CR’s 2022 Prisoner Solidarity Annual Postcard Mailing! Nearly 200 volunteers signed up to help CR with our annual holiday mailing to thousands of prisoners! If you signed up already, be sure to join CR and a chapter near you for one of our in-person or remote prisoner solidarity mailing events. Thank you for the support! If you have questions email [email protected]
Bay Area: Join us Friday, December 16 at Understory for CR Oakland's Prisoner Solidarity Holiday Mailing!
CR Oakland is hosting an in-person prisoner solidarity postcard writing session at Understory, a worker-of-color-owned restaurant & bar. There will be yummy food, indoor/outdoor seating (plus space heaters), CR merch (discounted when you buy in-person), and 15% of drink sales go to CR!
This will also be a postcard pick-up station for folks who've already registered to write postcards, and there will be letters available for people to sign and send inside. Join us from 4-7pm at 528 8th St in Oakland, on Friday, December 16.
Buy CR merch and wear our gear: Bundle up this winter in a CR sweatshirt or select your holiday reading through our online store!
We have plenty of hoodies, crewnecks, shirts, and totes for purchase. You can treat yourself to this vibrant gear or gift it to a loved one. Buying CR merch is a great way to sustain our PIC abolitionist organizing and wear your abolitionist heart on your sleeve!
Please note: We have just passed the cutoff for merch orders to be delivered in time for holiday gifts (12/14), but you can still order today and start 2023 off in style!
Critical Resistance is majority grassroots-funded. Donate today!
