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Abolition in the Legal Field: A Discussion About Abolitionism in the Classroom and Beyond

Law students are often told that there is no room to discuss abolition in our classes, and when it is brought up by students, it is seen as “too radical” and irrelevant to the project of learning legal doctrine. This panel will explore the belief that abolitionist thinking and praxis is important in all aspects of life, but especially in the legal field, and that abolitionist perspectives can promote a deep understanding of the law both in the classroom and in legal practice beyond.

The event will be moderated by Grace Carson, a 2L at UCLA. The event is co-sponsored by the Criminal Justice Society, the Criminal Justice Program, the Prison Law and Policy Program, Critical Race Studies, the Prison Education Program and Abolition Curriculum, and NLG-UCLA.

Alicia Virani is the Gilbert Foundation Director of the Criminal Justice Program at UCLA School of Law. She also runs the legal clinic Pay or Stay: An Exploration of the Bail System in America, where students explore both reform and abolition of the cash bail system.

Ivette Alé is a grassroots organizer, LGBTQ community leader, and artist. Most recently, she served as Statewide Coordinator for Californians United for a Responsible Budget, successfully shifting state and local spending from corrections and policing to human services.

Titilayo Rasaki is a Policy Associate at the Essie Justice Group, where she works to advance meaningful criminal justice systems change in California. She works in coalition with local, statewide, and national partners to drive change.

Stephanie Lumsden (Hupa) is currently a PhD student in the Gender Studies Department at UCLA and a lecturer in Ethnic Studies at Mills College. Her recent scholarship explores the intersection between Indigenous freedom and abolition politics.

India Thusi is an Associate Professor of Law at Delaware Law School. Her research examines racial and sexual hierarchies as they relate to policing, race, and gender.

Apr 1, 2021 12:15 PM in Pacific Time (US and Canada)