Critical Resistance
Critical Resistance seeks to build an international movement to end the prison industrial complex (PIC) by challenging the belief that caging and controlling people makes us safe. We believe that basic necessities such as food, shelter, and freedom are what really make our communities secure. As such, our work is part of global struggles against inequality and powerlessness. The success of the movement requires that it reflect communities most affected by the PIC. Because we seek to abolish the PIC, we cannot support any work that extends its life or scope.
Financials
Programs
California Prison Closure Campaign
Critical Resistance Los Angeles, Critical Resistance Oakland, and the Californians United for a Responsible Budget coalition are fighting for California to close CA prisons, divest from imprisonment, and invest in life-affirming resources.
Dignity Not Detention New York Campaign
Critical Resistance New York City and the Abolish ICE New York New Jersey Coalition are working to implement Dignity Not Detention New York, which ends collaboration between state-run jails and prisons and ICE, removing the state's ability to cage immigrants.
Resisting Policing in Portland
Critical Resistance Portland continues to mount effective fights against the practices, tools, and logics of policing in Portland, OR. After a recent success in redirecting $2M from policing, to public parks and after-school programs, the chapter is preparing for future anti-policing organizing.
Resisting carcerality in Central Appalachia
Critical Resistance Central Appalachia is contributing to fights across the region. This includes the fight to stop the construction of a federal prison in Letcher County, KY, anti-policing organizing, and work against jails.
The Abolitionist Newspaper
The Abolitionist, launched in 2005, is a cross-wall, bilingual (English/Spanish) newspaper dedicated to the strategy and struggle of prison industrial complex (PIC) abolition that is published by Critical Resistance (CR). The Abolitionist is sent to thousands of people imprisoned in jails, prisons and detention centers in the US and some internationally, who in turn share the paper with many more prisoners. Free to people locked up, The Abolitionist is supported by paid subscribers on the outside, as each paid subscription by a non-imprisoned person sponsors a free subscription for at least two prisoners.