You're invited to a special online discussion for Mother Jones readers with Black Lives Matter co-founder (and so much more) Patrisse Cullors. It's next Thursday, March 3, at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT.

 

 

MoJo Reader,

 

Hi! 👋🏻 It's James West, MoJo's deputy editor, here to let you know about a not-to-be-missed live event I'm hosting next week, featuring a guest I find utterly fascinating. I know you will too. 

 

You're invited to a special online discussion for Mother Jones readers with Black Lives Matter co-founder (and so much more) Patrisse Cullors. It's next Thursday, March 3, at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT. RSVP for the free event to receive a timely reminder and a video link to watch afterward if you can't join me live. I'm also interested in what you want to ask Patrisse. The lines are open: Send me your burning question about the future of prisons, or how to fight for a fairer, more just world. 

RSVP for free | Submit a question in advance

 

As Black Lives Matter evolves, so too does author, artist, and educator Patrisse Cullors, who co-founded the movement a decade ago—and she has since zeroed in on a related pursuit and passion: abolishing prisons, jails, police, courts, and surveillance as we know it.

 

"When people hear the word abolitionist," Patrisse writes in her new book, An Abolitionist's Handbook, "they usually think of slavery." As with abolishing slavery, she argues, there can be no compromise, no half-measures, and no rest. Is "defund the police" a literal call for a total, complete shutdown? For Patrisse and other abolitionists: absolutely. "This is not about fixing a broken system, we are not looking for better food or more access to education in prison. We are looking to abolish the entire system."

 

How? Patrisse's new book offers 12 steps in the form of a user-friendly guidebook, and we'll get to all of them in our chat next Thursday. The first step Patrisse recommends is having "courageous conversations''—and I'll do my very best to make this one of them. And if you're looking for a preview, you can read more about her bold, humanistic approach in a recent essay for Variety, and I hope you will.   

 

Sounds very interesting, right? 

 

I can't wait to discuss all this and more with Patrisse and the MoJo community next week, and I hope you'll sign up for the free event today (or to get a link and watch it afterward). And don't forget to submit any thoughts you have in advance and I'll pose your questions to our special guest.

 

"Make justice joyful" is one of Patrisse's other steps for changing the world. I like that. It's what we try to do here at Mother Jones, too. So, come have fun with me next Thursday—even as we discuss the most consequential and weighty of topics.

 

Thanks for reading, and for everything you do to make Mother Jones what it is.

James West

Deputy Editor

Mother Jones