Thread by @JemarTisby

The Making and Unmaking Mass Incarceration (@MUMI_2019) conference is underway! Follow along for insights from today’s leading thinkers and activists on this important topic.
#MUMI2019

Vardaman Hall at the University of Mississippi, named after Mississippi Senator James K. Vardaman (1861-1930). He ran on the slogan, “A vote for Vardaman is a vote for white supremacy.” @garrett_felber opening remarks
#MUMI2019

'There is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.' ~ Audre Lorde
#MUMI2019

In 1876 Mississippi legislators passed “pig laws.”
“The new law lowered the dollar threshold for what constituted grand larceny, an offense punishable by up to five years in prison, from twenty-five dollars to ten dollars.” Dionne Bailey
mississippiencyclopedia.org/entries/pig-la…
#MUMI2019

“Studying how we got here [in terms of mass incarceration] implies the political responsibility to do something about it.” ~ Max Mishler
#MUMI2019

There is such a thing as an “anti-slavery white supremacist.” Historian Walter Johnson discussing imperialism, racism, and capitalism in the nation’s past.
#MUMI2019

“Our role as activists is to uplift the activism that is happening in the inside.” ~ Amani Sawari speaking of solidarity with incarcerated people

"The black revolution is much more than a struggle for the rights of Negroes. It is, rather, forcing America to face all its interrelated flaws: racism, poverty, militarism, and materialism. It is exposing evils that are rooted deeply in the whole structure of our society. ~ MLK

"Why pre-compromise yourself?...We have so much fear in us when it comes to policy." ~ Mariame Kaba on demanding the "impossible"
#MUMI2019

This is precisely why we need conferences like Making and Unmaking Mass Incarceration.
#MUMI2019 @MUMI_2019
washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/12…

We heard this morning from a man named, Antoine, who is incarcerated at a prison in Alabama. He called in to the #MUMI conference. We could barely hear him (symbolic in and of itself) but he said clearly. "We are human beings."

We often think in terms of "What is crime?" and "Who is a criminal?" A more expansive framing asks, "What is harm?" and "Who is harmed?" and "Who is doing the harming?"
@MUMI_2019 #MUMI2019

An important moment here at the #MUMI2019 conference as Dr. Patrick Alexander and Dr. @OtisWPickett are honored for their pioneering work founding the Prison To College Pipeline Program. Learn more: ptcpp.olemiss.edu