asian arts initiative
Programs

ABOLITION NOW!

ARTISTS: Kamal Badhey and Karla Robinson | MyLoan Dinh | Sara Zia Ebrahimi and Gralin Hughes | Lacey Johnson | Justine Lai | William Wallace

WORKING GROUP: Russell Craig | Juntos | People’s Paper Co-op | Youth Art & Self-Empowerment Project

June 21 – September 6, 2019 | Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

How do policing, prisons, and detention affect marginalized communities? What is restorative and transformative justice in practice? What does an abolitionist future look like, and how do we get there?

What are the stakes for Asian Americans in abolition? Japanese American internment, racial profiling of Muslim people, and deportations of Southeast Asian immigrants are just a few of the ways that Asian American communities are subjugated by the prison industrial complex. Abolition asks us to imagine a world without policing, prisons, and other forms of state-sponsored violence against black and brown communities. On an interpersonal level, abolition asks us to rethink the ways that we address harm in intimate and societal relationships.

Find out more about the ABOLITION NOW! artists and artwork. Hear from some of the artists themselves:

<https://youtu.be/8iVEzJpowM0>

<https://youtu.be/bPObybrCkYU>

Related Events

  • Women in Reentry Day - Tuesday, May 14, 1:30-5:30p.m
    • In partnership with People’s Paper Co-op
  • Beyond Borders and Binaries: A Conversation and Workshop - Saturday, June 15, 2-5p.m.
    • In partnership with Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary Project, Office of Immigrant Affairs, and Office of LGBTQ Affairs
  • Opening Reception: Friday, June 21, 6-9p.m.
  • Youth Art & Self Empowerment Project Workshop: Thursday, August 1, 6:30-8p.m.
  • People’s Paper Co-op Artist Talk & Bookmaking Workshop: Monday, August 5, 6:30-8pm
  • Closing Reception: Friday, August 23, 6-11p.m.

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Asian Arts Initiative is designed as a mobility accessible facility, with access to all public floors and spaces, and seating accommodations for programmed events. Both non-gendered and individually isolating restrooms are available on each floor, all equipped with changing stations. If contacted in advance, we will make every attempt to fulfill requests for reasonable accommodations such as vision/hearing auxiliary aids and cognitive disability guides. Please note: Due to most events being attended by the general public, we cannot guarantee accommodations for those with fragrance sensitivities. AAI is a family-friendly multigenerational space.