United For Change: Busting Up The Carceral State

Through these prison walls, we witness a truth often ignored: prisons fail to resolve societal issues. As someone who has experienced this system alongside dedicated abolitionists, I can affirm that incarceration breeds further harm rather than averting it.It disturbs me to hear inmates celebrate the arrival of those who have caused harm; such responses reveal how deeply we have internalized the punitive mindset that entraps us all. When questioned about addressing rapists and murderers sans prisons, I probe back: Which rapists and murderers? Entities like the military, corrupt guards, and predatory pharmaceutical companies perpetuate harm without repercussions. The flawed application of justice highlights that prisons are less about healing and more about controlling specific groups. We must reflect on what resources could have altered our paths without justifying harmful actions. Dismantling the carceral state requires challenging its pillars: legitimacy, economic interests, isolation, and harmful narratives that disproportionately target marginalized communities. True safety involves addressing foundational issues: poverty, healthcare, housing, and trauma. By uniting across divisions, we discover a power that can transcend these oppressive walls.