Accessibility & Travel for ICOPA17

ICOPA has toured the world for 23 years bringing together prisoners, former prisoners, prisoners’ families and communities most affected by the criminal justice system, scholars, artists, community organizers and organizations. 

In its long history ICOPA has only been hosted in the United States once (in 1991). Being home to the largest criminal justice system in the world has made it necessary for us to learn about abolition as we explore and build sustainable options for liberty and justice. The University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, in collaboration with the Bristol County Community College in New Bedford will host ICOPA 17 in July 2017.

We are all too well aware of the particular moment the U.S. is in politically – including increased investment in the systems of policing and incarceration as a response to the growing poverty, racist policies, and anti-immigrant raids. Bringing ICOPA to the U.S. in this moment is an opportunity to build international solidarity for the abolitionist work that is currently happening on the ground. It is also a moment to escalate that work to match the current conditions, and affirm the leadership of people directly impacted by the carceral state as a centra
l part of our movement.

Our goal is to raise $5,000 toward travel stipends, prioritizing the participation of formerly incarcerated people and folks with loved ones who are  in prison. We are also prioritizing the participation of low and no income folks, people of color, trans people, queer people, and youth. The remaining $2,000 will be put towards translation services and childcare, to make ICOPA 17 accessible.