No One is Disposable: Everyday Practices of Prison Abolition

Tourmaline and Dean Spade '97
Feb 7, 2014 | 4:00pm
Online Event
Online at bcrw.barnard.edu
Co-Sponsors: Sylvia Rivera Law Project

REGISTER EVENT INFORMATION VIDEOS QUESTIONS RESOURCES

Event Informaton

In a series of four short online videos produced by BCRW, activists Tourmaline and Dean Spade discuss prison abolition as a political framework, exploring why this is a top issue for those committed to supporting trans and gender-nonconforming people. These videos look at how to build societies where the process of creating justice is as important as the end—communities where no one is exiled. Watch the videos here. Captions are available on YouTube.

On February 7th at 4PM EST we invite you to join us for an online discussion based on these videos. Tourmaline and Dean will join BCRW in our first ever online event, co-sponsored by the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, to answer questions about prison abolition and its intersections with queer and trans movements. Register today and join us for this exciting experiment in creating online learning spaces that contribute to activist conversations.

Tourmaline is an artist and activist who works as Membership Director of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project.

Dean Spade is the founder of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, author of Normal Life: Administrative Violence, Critical Trans Politics and the Limits of the Law, and an associate professor at Seattle University School of Law. He is currently a fellow in the Engaging Tradition Project at Columbia Law School.

HOW TO WATCH + JOIN THE DISCUSSION #nooneisdisposable

We will be using Google Hangout on Air to live stream video of Tourmaline and Dean responding to questions moderated by Hope Dector. Starting at 4 PM (EST), you can access the video on this page, on YouTube, or on the Google Hangout page. If you have a Google + account, we recommend watching on the Google Hangout page where you can use the Q+A app, as well as comment.

Join the discussion on the Google Hangout page (requires a Google+ account) or on Twitter using #nooneisdisposable.

You can ask a question on the Google Hangout page; by tweeting @bcrwtweets or using #nooneisdisposable; on BCRW’s facebook page; on the form below; or by emailing bcrw@barnard.edu.

If you’re hosting a group viewing, we’d love to know about it! Please email us at bcrw@barnard.edu. If you have any questions about the event, just let us know. We look forward to seeing you online on Friday at 4!

Videos

Captions are available on YouTube.

Part 1: Prison Abolition + Prefiguring the World You Want to Live In

Part 2: Practicing Prison Abolition Everyday

Part 3: What About the Dangerous People?

Part 4: Gun Control + Producing Dangerousness

Questions

We received so many thoughtful and provocative questions before and during the online conversation. Unfortunately, there was no way to respond to all of them during the hour we had, but you can see the questions here (PDF).

Resources

No One is Disposable: Resources and Context for a Conversation on Prison Abolition
Research Assistant Carly Crane wrote a BCRW Blog post intended to be “a reference for the videos and discussion, to provide broader context as well as a starting point for further exploration of the prison abolition movement.” Carly’s post includes helpful definitions, links to the organizations and activists Tourmaline and Dean mention in the videos, as well as additional links and twitter handles to follow to learn more.