what is abolitionist bookclub? It's a space where people can bring their thoughts and share their feelings, and reflect together on what's going on in the world. In doing so, we will hopefully probably feel more sane. By reading, and practicing reading, we can find understanding of the world, but to keep that understanding alive we have to share it with eachother :).

defining abolitionism: Systems that produces racial inequality operate using prisons and police, and those systems exist to prop up capitalism. The task of understanding how police, punishment and the law are enmeshed in society is not simple and we don't have any business dismissing any points of view on crime. We don't have any business dismissing experience. But we can't go forward without historical materialism.

Capitalism and racial Capitalism are present both here, now, and everywhere in the world. Historically, economic needs, the needs of those who benefit from the current economic system, have shaped and developed punishment and society's methods of dealing with cirminals. (-- This is the argument made by abolitionists.) Prisons reinforce racial, gender, and class hierarchy.

a platform / statement of belief from us, as a group, is forthcoming, I hope.