Abolition Is Care: Building a Better Future Together
When we hear the word abolition, many of us think of the past—of slavery and the movements that fought to end it. But abolition didn’t end in the 19th century. Today, abolition is a living, evolving movement that asks us to fundamentally rethink justice, safety, and community.
So what does abolition mean now? And why are more people talking about it?
Why Abolition?
The current criminal legal system causes more harm than good because of historical institutionally integrated racial targeting and the legacy of trauma that comes with separating loved ones from core systems of support. Additionally, the abuse that can occur inside prisons is a serious civil rights issue that leaves communities scarred for decades, creating a cycle of trauma.
Abolition recognizes that punishment doesn’t equal justice. Real justice asks deeper questions: What led to the harm? How can we support healing? How can we prevent it from happening again?
Black people make up approximately 13% of the U.S. population. However, they constitute around 37% of the incarcerated population in prisons and jails, according to the Prison Policy Institute. Racial disparities in incarceration remain a persistent and deeply rooted problem in the U.S. criminal justice system, reflecting systemic biases that affect every stage from arrest to sentencing to parole.
Despite reforms aimed at reducing the prison population, Black individuals continue to face disproportionately higher rates of incarceration due to a combination of racial bias, socioeconomic inequities, and policies like the War on Drugs that have unfairly targeted their communities.
While some progress is being made through reform efforts, these disparities highlight a broader need for transformative change. This is where abolition steps in, to reimagine a system that doesn’t rely on punishment and control, but on equity, care, and true community safety.
What Does Accountability Look Like Without Prisons?
Some people worry that abolition means letting harm go unaddressed. But abolitionists believe accountability is crucial, it just needs to look different.
Instead of punishment, abolition supports restorative and transformative justice practices. These approaches invite the people involved in harm to come together (when safe and consensual), understand the impact, and work toward meaningful repair. They emphasize responsibility, dialogue, and community healing
Abolition and Community Safety
Contrary to popular belief, more police don’t automatically mean more safety. Safety comes from meeting people’s needs which includes stable and affordable housing, access to healthcare, mental health support, education, and economic opportunity.
Abolitionists envision communities where safety is created by the people who live there, not enforced from the outside. Where harm is prevented not through surveillance, but through connection, trust, and care.
Abolition Is Rooted in Liberation
Abolition begins with those who have been most harmed by existing systems which includes, Black, Indigenous, queer, and trans communities. These groups have historically been criminalized rather than protected.
Fighting for abolition means fighting for liberation for all. It means listening to the voices of those at the margins, supporting movements like Land Back, advocating for reparations, and divesting from punishment so we can reinvest in life-affirming resources.
So, What Does Abolition Look Like in Action?
Abolition is already happening in small, powerful ways:
Mutual aid networks that distribute food, funds, and supplies without relying on the state
Community-based mental health support instead of police intervention
Restorative justice programs in schools and neighborhoods
Organizers demanding housing, healthcare, and education over jails and police budgets
As Mariame Kaba, a leading abolitionist thinker, says: “Abolition is about presence, not absence. It’s about building life-affirming institutions.”
A Future We Can Choose
Abolition is not a quick fix. It’s a long-term commitment to transformation. It starts with asking different questions. Imagining new possibilities. Taking small steps in our communities. Choosing care over punishment, connection over isolation.
Because abolition isn’t just about what we tear down. It’s about what we’re brave enough to build in its place.
