Launched in the spring of 2005 by the Oakland Chapter, The Abolitionist is a bilingual (English/Spanish) publication and organizing tool for prisoners, dedicated to the strategy and practice of prison industrial complex abolition. Paid subscriptions from people outside of prison allow us to distribute the paper three times per year absolutely free of charge to over 5,500 people in prisons, jails, and detention centers throughout the US and internationally, who in turn share the paper with many more of their fellow prisoners. The Abolitionist Editorial Collective is now a national workgroup of Critical Resistance, with members across the US. As George Jackson said: “The point is…in the face of what we confront, to fight and win. That’s the real objective: not just to make statements, no matter how noble, but to destroy the system that oppresses us. By any means available to us. And to do this, we must be connected, in contact and communication with those in the struggle on the outside.”
Three times per year, Critical Resistance prints different issues of The Abolitionist, exploring a range of topics related to the strategy and struggle of PIC abolition. From analyses of racial capitalism and imperialism, to housing, education, land struggles, mental health, confronting gender violence, fights to build life-affirming infrastructure for community self-determination and more, each issue is packed with fresh analytical articles, reflections, poetry, visual art, and organizing resources and tools for resistance inside and outside of prisons.
Learn more about the project here.
In two short weeks, Issue 39 of The Abolitionist is heading to the printing press. Check out early-release articles (below and here) to sneak a peek into the issue and…
The following article is an early release to boost subscriptions for the upcoming Summer 2023 issue of Critical Resistance’s The Abolitionist newspaper, to be printed in mid-June. To support free…
Issue 38 features articles and interviews on labor struggles and prison industrial complex (PIC) abolition. Printed in December of 2022, the complete issue is now available for free download in…
Peek inside the newest issue of Critical Resistance’s The Abolitionist newspaper with this early release article by Mujeres de Frente on feminist unionism and collective organizing in Ecuador before, during,…
Issue 38 of The Abolitionist newspaper is printing at the beginning of December 2022! Peek inside the issue with this early release interview with Melissa Burch, former Critical Resistance (CR)…
Issue 37 features articles on housing justice and prison industrial complex (PIC) abolition. Printed in June of 2022, the complete issue is now available for free download in both English…
By Lawrence Jenkins & Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin with Garrett Felber Editors’ Note: This issue’s fishing line brings current political prisoner, Lawrence Jenkins, and former political prisoner, Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin, together…
Issue 37 of The Abolitionist newspaper is heading to print at the end of this month! Check out what’s in store for our Summer 2022 issue by reading the feature…
Issue 36 “Pathways Toward Freedom” features articles on strategies for getting people out of cages. Printed in December of 2021, the complete issue is now available for free download in…
By Mohamed Shehk The following article is a feature action piece from Issue 36 of Critical Resistance’s The Abolitionist newspaper, printed in December 2021. The issue features “Pathways toward Freedom,”…