Watch Visions of Abolition

Visions of Abolition is a compelling documentary film that aims to envision a world without prisons. The film explores the history and impact of mass incarceration on communities of color in the United States, and highlights the work of activists and scholars who are challenging the system of mass incarceration. The film is divided into several chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of the prison-industrial complex. In the first chapter, titled "Slavery By Another Name," the film discusses the legacy of slavery and how it has influenced the development of the criminal justice system in the United States. The film highlights how laws like the Black Codes, which criminalized formerly enslaved people, served as a way to maintain slavery in all but name.

In the second chapter, "The Prison Industrial Complex," the film discusses how corporations have profited from the growth of the prison system in the United States. The film highlights how private prison companies like the Corrections Corporation of America have lobbied for laws that increase mass incarceration, and how they profit from the exploitation of incarcerated people.

The third chapter, "Criminalizing Resistance," focuses on the ways that activists and communities of color have been targeted by law enforcement for challenging the prison-industrial complex. The film documents the government's attempts to suppress the Black Panther Party and other social justice movements, as well as the current surveillance and targeting of activists through programs like COINTELPRO and fusion centers.

The fourth chapter, "Challenging the System," documents the work of activists and scholars who are working towards abolition. The film highlights the work of organizations like Critical Resistance and the Movement for Black Lives, as well as the scholarship of people like Angela Davis and Ruth Wilson Gilmore, who argue that we must rethink our approach to justice and work towards a world without prisons.

Throughout the film, the stories of people who have been impacted by mass incarceration are highlighted. The film documents the experiences of formerly incarcerated people like Susan Burton, who founded A New Way of Life, a reentry program for women in Los Angeles. The film also features interviews with family members and loved ones of incarcerated people, who speak about the impact that the prison system has had on their communities.

Visions of Abolition is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that exposes the injustices of the prison-industrial complex and calls for a radical reimagining of justice in the United States. The film highlights the voices and experiences of those most impacted by incarceration, and offers hope for a future where justice is rooted in healing, restoration, and community rather than punishment and retribution.

Visions of Abolition is a documentary with a runtime of 50 minutes.