Defund the police.
Refund the people.
The road to abolition is long, but another world is possible.
Our mission is to build collective power around a vision of abolition, and harness that power to defund—and ultimately abolish—police and prisons.
We are a people-powered movement working to transform the material conditions of our community. We aim to honor marginalized people and their contributions to this long fight for freedom by overthrowing the oppressive systems that harm us all.
Discover how we can #refundthepeople.
Our city budget is a moral document that sets the values and policy goals of our city.
For FY23, Mayor Ballantyne has proposed increasing the Somerville Police Department budget by 8.16% — the biggest SPD budget increase in 10 years. SPD also gets substantial funding from state & federal grants, among other sources.
We explore how this money incentivizes dangerous, racist behaviors in Mapping the Money, the first issue of our new zine, available to read, download or print at the link below:
Join the movement.
There is a place for everyone in this work, whether you’re a coder, artist, teacher, builder, food service worker—whatever your skills and your passion, we need you fighting alongside us. Together, through relationship building, collective organizing, and community care, we can make abolition a reality.
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Looking for an interview? Just have a question? Get in touch with our Steering Committee.
“i am actively working towards abolition. which means that i am trying to create the necessary conditions to ensure the possibility of a world without prisons.”
— mariame kaba