Weekly 6-8pm on Tuesdays: 11th, 18th, 25th June & 2nd July

‘Abolition’ describes an outlook towards the world that works to dismantle systems of oppression that maintain and perpetrate forms of injustice. Contemporary abolitionists argue that prisons and the police (among other institutions) are key mechanisms of anti-black, racist, classist, ableist, trans- and queerphobic oppression. Abolitionists claim that dismantling these systems an essential component of liberation struggles; and propose alternative ways of organising the world and living our lives to address the issues that these systems claim to solve. We draw from long histories of resistance to oppression to ground our ideas.

This reading group will read and discuss a mix of essays and books on these subjects. We will look at recent texts addressing these issues from feminist, queer and trans perspectives. We will focus on thinking about the intersections of gender, sexuality and race with carceral systems, along with ‘deviant’, wayward, and collective approaches to resistance and to supporting people affected by such systems.

This material requires being open to learning. All are welcome, no matter your knowledge or experience of abolition.

About Nat

Nat Raha is a poet and activist-scholar. She’s organised with a number of queer and trans collectives, including Edinburgh Action for Trans Health and MATE (Mutual Aid Trans Edinburgh). She co-edits Radical Transfeminism zine with Mijke van der Drift, who together are co-authors of Trans Femme Futures: Abolitionist Ethics for Transfeminist Worlds (Pluto Press, forthcoming 2024).

Booking information

Booking in advance is essential. Your booking covers all four sessions to allow the group to get to know each other. Places are limited so, if you are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your place to someone else.

Preparation

This material requires being open to learning. All are welcome, no matter your knowledge or experience of abolition. We will send 

Venue & Accessibility

The sessions are located at the archive in Edinburgh Palette. Visit our accessibility page for information on how to get to us on public transport and by car, along with access information.

Any other questions

Please email us: themenaces@lavendermenace.org.uk