Week 1 Overview
Criminalization and Imprisonment
This summer we have witnessed an uprising against policing and imprisonment, sparked by the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police. Across the US and in Seattle, cities and counties are wrestling with whether and how to cut police budgets and reimagine public safety. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic is making the health crises created by prisons and jails even worse, and there are broad calls to free imprisoned people as the death toll rises. This week and in the weeks to come, we will look both at the contemporary moment and at the longer struggle against policing and prisons, asking fundamental questions about the role of criminal law enforcement in our society, and exploring the avenues for change being advocated by various groups.
| WHAT TO DO BEFORE WE MEET |
Before Monday's Class
1. Read:
- Angela Davis, Are Prisons Obsolete? Chapters 1, 2, 3. Links to an external site.
- Daniel Beekman, "Seattle City Council pressed to defund police, move 911 response dispatchers out of department," Seattle Times, July 8, 2020. Links to an external site.
- Mariame Kaba, "Yes, We Literally Mean Abolish the Police," New York Times, June 12, 2020. Links to an external site.
- Kwame Holmes, "Why Abolish the Police?," Chronogram, July 1, 2020. Links to an external site.
- Joel Nudell, Alex Chohlas-Wood and Sharad Goel, "Cities and States Emptied Jails to Prevent Infection. They Should Stay Empty." Washington Post, July 7, 2020. Links to an external site.
Optional video:
Decriminalize Seattle press conference Links to an external site..
2. By Monday at 9am, post your reading analysis.
3. In Monday's class we will do an introductory go-around where we all share our name, pronoun, and one thing we think contributes to wealth inequality in the United States. Please think about this question, coming prepared with a few ideas so that if someone who goes ahead of you says yours you have another to offer when it is your turn.
Before Wednesday's Class
1. Check out these websites:
Decriminalize Seattle Links to an external site.
8 Can't Wait Links to an external site.
8 to Abolition Links to an external site.
8 to Abolition was made in response to 8 Can't Wait. What are the differences between 8 Can't Wait and 8 to Abolition?
| WHAT WE WILL DO WHEN WE MEET |
During our Monday class time we will meet each other, go over the key elements of the class, and begin our discussion of this week's reading themes. During our Wednesday class we will continue discussing the readings, including by doing small group work to apply these ideas.
| WHAT TO DO AFTER WE MEET |
By Thursday at 9am, post to a short post answering this questions:
- What "aha" moments happened for you in class this week regarding these readings? What is the "muddiest point" for you about this week's readings right now?
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