Presenters

  • Courtney Hanson, Development and Communications Coordinator, California Coalition for Women Prisoners
  • Kendra Drysdale, Advocate, California Coalition for Women Prisoners

Co-Presenters hide

Objectives:

  • Better understand the prevalence of sexual violence inside California prisons and why movements like #MeToo should include criminalized and incarcerated communities.
  • Imagine a world free from sexual violence and feel inspired to transform our society through practical examples and lessons learned on the ground.
  • Reflect on how amplifying the voices of survivors inside prison can translate into powerful collective action.

 

For nearly 30 years the California Coalition for WomenPrisoners (CCWP) has exposed and challenged the systemic abuse thatpeople incarcerated in women’s prisons endure and resist. Sexual violenceat the hands of prison staff remains one of the most persistent issues thatwe tackle through community organizing, public education, advocacy,legal action and policy change. Our collective work with survivors at theDublin women’s prison offers many lessons about building collectivepower to challenge sexual violence behind bars. We will also shareconcrete examples of survivor-led work at other California prisons tointerrupt sexual violence and demand accountability and justice.