NO NEW JAILS

For decades, we’ve repeated the same cycle. Build a jail. Fill it with our neighbors. Suggest the problem is the building and demand a bigger jail. Build a new, bigger jail. Fill it with our neighbors. In 2022, Oklahoma County organizers came together to pitch the question, what if we broke that cycle, and demanded solutions to the real problems: the problem of jailing our neighbors pre-trial simply because they cannot afford an arbitrary ransom, the problem of jailing people because what they need is support and help meeting basic survival needs, the problem of pouring our community wealth in a system that perpetuates violence and does not keep us safe. While just over 100,000 voters ultimately decided the investment of $260 million towards an expanded carceral facility further away from the courts and resources, we knew the fight and the work wasn’t over. This fight continues in the reality of the county realizing a $260,000,000 debt would not be enough to build a bigger jail. Where additional dollars will come from is up in the air. We know it should not come from our tax dollars.

At its core, organizing is an iterative process. In getting to say what we don’t want (No New Jail), we also find opportunities to build community, build language, and build power to craft and shape the kind of future we do want to build in. No New Jail OK is now housed within Home Base, a community-centered hub where we can together learn and practice how we build power, create connections, and connect folks to resources for all of the fights we’re facing on the ground at the intersections of the carceral state. As Home Base, in addition you’ll find new-er projects (like our Home Team reading group and podcast) and recurring campaigns (including the long-form effort of No New Jail OK), plus you’ll find a growing hub of community and information in what we continue to evolve into at Home Base. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning, or are just finding us, welcome home.

NO NEW JAILS tees are printed on Comfort Colors 1717 Heavyweight shirts in ivory or black

All proceeds will be split between The Bail Project & Foundation for Liberating Minds

https://bailproject.org/

https://www.foundationforliberatingminds.org/