Talking About Abolition

“Through these powerful interviews, Sonali provides a window into the visionary work of on-the-ground organizers developing the concrete practices of an abolitionist future. In the process, she reminds us that abolition is not an abstraction, but instead a guide for the work we do now to build a better future.”
—Alex S. Vitale, author of The End of Policing

“Prison and police abolition can seem radical, counterintuitive, and absurd. But in Talking About Abolition Sonali Kohlhatkar—whose journalism has unflinchingly looked at America’s racist, sexist, classist, and bloated punishment bureaucracy through a critical lens for many years—weaves her conversations with twelve extremely original and insightful thinkers into a clear, concise, and compelling argument for abolition: its social justifiability, practical feasibility, and moral necessity. Taken together, these interviews are a masterclass in justice-driven journalism.”
—Jody Armour, Roy P. Crocker Professor of Law at the University of Southern California

“Imagine sitting in a stunning circle of the folks we all want and need to talk to about abolition. Sonali Kolhatkar has done just that – asking them the questions I needed to ask and the questions I didn’t know to ask. A must read. 
What makes this book stand out is the stunning circle of organizers, scholars that Sonali Kolhatkar has assembled. The book both refines and expands our understanding of abolition – from its role in combating racial capitalism to revolutionary experiments with food justice or participatory budgeting, Kolhatkar’s expert interviews allow us to see the world as possibility and to engage the concrete struggles that are already making the world anew from within our current confinements. 
As someone who reads a lot about police and prison abolition: this book immediately jumped into my top tier. I can’t think of another book that talks more folks at crucial intersections and engages them in more revelatory conversations. This is a book that we must read together, study together and realize together over and over again.”
—Chenjerai Kumanyika, host and creator of Crooked Media’s Empire City podcast and assistant professor at NYU’s Arthur L. Cater Journalism Institute


“From food justice to participatory budgeting to defunding the police, Sonali Kolhatkar brings forth an incredible group of professors, organizers, and community activists. This anthology not only amplifies abolitionist solutions to our community’s pressing problems, Sonali shows us the possibilities if we expand our imaginations and learn to remember that the people closest to the problems often have the solutions. Talking About Abolition pushes the reader to embrace the process of self-determination and emphasizes the importance of engaging in the urgent work of movement building and instilling a sense of responsibility and commitment.”—Dr. Rosa Alicia Clemente, award-winning organizer, independent journalist, scholar-activist, and 2008 vice presidential candidate for the Green Party.