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.
Now that Issue 35 is approaching print, our previous Issue #34 is ready for free download. Check out the Letter from the Editors in this issue below, along with the #34 sneak peek…
Note: This article was written in the winter of 2021 for Issue 34 of The Abolitionist newspaper, and serves as a central analysis piece grounding the entire issue. The Abolitionist is sent to thousands…
Issue 33 of The Abolitionist introduces our readers to a new structure for the paper combining changing features and regular columns. Issue 33 Features cover the COVID-19 pandemic. La Abolicionista…
Issue 33 of The Abolitionist features pieces on the COVID-19 pandemic and introduces the newspaper’s new structure, including a section of new, regular columns. The feature pieces of this issue offer critical…
“Decolonization and Abolition” — Issue #32 of The Abolitionist is almost here! Help us send it free to over 6,000 imprisoned people across the country: Subscribe today or contact us for an organizational subscription!…
Issue 31 in EnglishDownload Edicion 31 en Espanõl Descargar Dear Readers, Greetings readers! We hope that Issue #31 of The Abolitionist finds you in strong and irrepressible spirits. Last September…
Welcome to Issue #30 of The Abolitionist! In this latest issue, we explore the different methods that people use to challenge the prison industrial complex (PIC), from a variety of different positions…
We’re excited to announce that Issue 30 of The Abolitionist Newspaper is on its way to publication in the next two weeks! This issue is themed “Tearing Down the Walls…
The latest issue of The Abolitionist paper is out! Subscribe today to get your copy, and support people in prisons, jails, and detention centers getting it for free. Issue 29…
With a theme of “Organizing Against Fascism,” Issue 28 packs a punch with writings by political prisoner Herman Bell and other imprisoned authors, transcriptions of recent talks by Ruthie Gilmore, Mariame Kaba,…