Leader: Terry Hoops
Book: Becoming Abolitionists
Author: Derecka Purnell
Description: This book is groundbreaking in responding to the issue of the centrality of police administrations in US communities. It argues that community organization needs to move beyond the police to create multifaceted democratically structured forms of community governance and organization. The book came out of the Floyd protests and the “defund the police” drive; but it is much more; it is a critical examination of police violence in communities of color, examines the recent history of police violence, and looks at “new abolitionist” efforts around the country. Purnell is a Harvard trained lawyer who has been dedicated for years to abolitionist activism. The book addresses historical issues, focusing particularly on the history of institutionalized white supremacy, the sociology and politics of community governance and democracy, race relations, civil rights activism in the 21st century.
Information from the Group Leader: This book is groundbreaking in responding to the issue of the centrality of police administrations in US communities. It argues that community organization needs to move beyond the police to create multifaceted democratically structured forms of community governance and organization. The book came out of the Floyd protests and the “defund the police” drive; but it is much more; it is a critical examination of police violence in communities of color, examines the recent history of police violence, and looks at “new abolitionist” efforts around the country. Purnell is a Harvard trained lawyer who has been dedicated for years to abolitionist activism. The book addresses historical issues, focusing particularly on the history of institutionalized white supremacy, the sociology and politics of community governance and democracy, race relations, civil rights activism in the 21st century.