This week we are rebroadcasting our interview with Richie Reseda, originally aired in August of 2019.

“The greatest purveyor of violence in the world today: my own government, I can not be silent.” Those sentiments shared by Dr. King fifty years ago about wars abroad continue to ring true both domestically and globally. Today, we focus on our government’s perpetuation of domestic violence via prisons and jails, and the inherent relationship between patriarchy and mass incarceration with music and freedom producer, Richie Reseda. We must recognize that patriarchy does not have to be the foundation of our society, punishment does not mean justice, and everyone’s growth is severely limited under domination and power. So how do we encourage one another to step away from patriarchal notions and identities and step into relations rooted in responsibility and love? How is our so-called justice system enacting trauma on individuals and families? How do we confront these violent systems through organizing and policy change?

Freed from prison in July of 2018, Richie Reseda is a feminist ally, community organizer, recording artist, and founder of the social-impact record label, Question Culture. Success Stories, the anti-patriarchy organization he started while incarcerated was chronicled in the CNN documentary “The Feminist on Cell Block Y.” He changes California prison policy with Initiate Justice, an organization he co-founded in prison.

This week’s conversation between Richie and Ayana continues to examine how harmful patriarchy is to us all, why we must let go of our limited understanding of crime, the geography of prisons, and meaningful and revolutionary organizing in prisons. As we explore another facet of our society’s mass violence problem, we are reminded of the dire need to abolish the carceral state and dismantle patriarchy for once and for all.

♫ The music featured in this episode is by Paul Cannon and Lake Mary.

Take Action

For updates on the Restoring Voting Rights for People on Parole: https://www.initiatejustice.org/voter-engagement

Donate to Richie’s Program, Success Stories, to help grow their feminist and transformational work
https://www.gofundme.com/f/success-stories-program

Donate to Initiate Justice to support their inside-outside organizing strategy as they work towards ending mass incarceration and implementing reforms
https://www.initiatejustice.org/donate/

Follow Richie’s work with Initiate Justice by following them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
https://www.facebook.com/initiatejustice/
https://www.instagram.com/initiatejustice/
https://twitter.com/initiatejustice?lang=en