We want health and wellbeing!

Not jails, prisons, or policing!

Want to join the movement against state repression and the prison industrial complex?
Join up with Critical Resistance!

We are a member-led organization with volunteer members and supporters across the country. Our mission is to fight against the interlocking systems of policing, imprisonment and surveillance that make up the prison industrial complex (PIC).

State repression is a central function of the prison industrial complex (PIC: the interlocking systems of policing, imprisonment, courts and surveillance). Critical Resistance envisions genuinely healthy, stable communities that respond to harm, violence and conflict without relying on imprisonment and

punishment to solve problems. Our goal is abolition: to shrink the prison industrial complex into non-existence and to build up the resources, practices and systems we need for healthy, strong communities.

Formerly imprisoned people, people of color, women, queer and trans/gender-nonconforming people are especially encouraged to get involved.

Volunteer:

Every CR chapter has volunteer nights/afternoons, either weekly or monthly (depending on location). This is a great opportunity to support our campaigns and projects, learn more about membership and help keep our movement alive. Email the contact below or call 510-444-0484 for general info.

CR-Oakland: Weekly volunteer night every Tuesday night from 7-9pm at 1904 Franklin St #504, Oakland, CA 94612. Contact croakland@criticalresistance.org

CR-Los Angeles: Monthly volunteer day. Contact crla@criticalresistance.org

CR-Portland: Monthly volunteer night at In Other Words Feminist Community Center. Contact crpdx@criticalresistance.org for details.

CR-New York: Monthly volunteer night every 3^rd Wednesday, 7-9pm at Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP), 147 W. 24th St., 5th Floor, New York, NY 10011. Contact crnyc@criticalresistance.org

Become a member:

Our members make CR run: they plan and implement projects and campaigns, host events and workshops, share our analysis and help make abolition common sense, and tend to the health and wellbeing of our organization. Contact your local chapter and come to a volunteer night to get involved!

Apply to be an Intern:

We are seeking interns to support Critical Resistance’s work in the national office based out of Oakland, CA or in our other chapter cities (Portland, LA, New York). This is an ideal internship for someone who is interested in gaining skills such as organizational operations/management, campaigns and organizing, media/communications, fundraising, and social media and web maintenance. We ask interns for a minimum commitment of two months and prefer a work schedule of at least 16 hours per week.

We are specifically seeking interns to work in two areas: Development and Fundraising (including donor management, event support, direct appeals) and The Abolitionist Newspaper (including project management, editing/writing, design).

No financial compensation however we can work with you to meet academic or other internship requirements. Former prisoners, people of color, women, queer and trans/gender-nonconforming people are especially encouraged to apply. Read more and apply.

Donate:

The work to fight for abolition is beautiful and inspiring! Your support helps keep this work strong and vibrant. Donate today!

Please consider donating today online, or by mailing a check to:

Critical Resistance
1904 Franklin Street, Suite 504
Oakland, CA 94612

or by calling us at 510-444-0484 to donate using your credit card. We also always need in-kind donations (computers, equipment, design assistance, translation, and more).

Critical Resistance does so much with so few resources, that your donations are always put to good use.

Start a CR Chapter in your Community

CR is committed to building and expanding the movement against the prison industrial complex by encouraging work at a local level. Our goal is to inspire people in all communities to join forces in the movement against the destructive effects of the prison industrial complex. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about starting a chapter in your community.