Support CR's Cross-Wall Strategy Retreat!

Help us raise $10,000 by July 5 to power abolitionist organizing and solidarity across cages.

Support CR's Cross-Wall Strategy Retreat! image

Break Every Chain: Support Cross-Wall Strategy & Power Building for Collective Liberation this Black August 2025

UPDATE: Due to many generous supporters and movement partners, this funding goal has been reached! We look forward to this upcoming cross-wall retreat and to sharing the rich and learnings from this event.

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This August, Critical Resistance (CR) and our movement partners are hosting the Cross-Wall Strategy & Power Building Retreat—a three-day, invite-only gathering of imprisoned and non-imprisoned abolitionist organizers from across the country. Together, we are forging strategies to effectively resist intensifying censorship, surveillance, and criminalization—and building the collective power we need to dismantle the prison industrial complex (PIC) at its roots. Due to security risks and capacity constraints, this retreat is invite-only. But you can still be part of it by helping make it possible — Fund Cross-wall Strategy for Collective Liberation today!

Why now? Why this retreat?
The repression of imprisoned people and organizers, including intensified prison censorship, surveillance, and retaliation, continues to escalate. At the same time, many of us outside of cages are organizing through abolitionist media, political education, mutual aid, solidarity projects, and campaigns against imprisonment, policing and criminalization— but we often do so in silos, under pressure, and without shared strategy or support. We believe this is a moment to gather — not broadly, but intentionally — to build long-term strength across our organizing efforts. To sharpen our political clarity, align on strategies, and root ourselves in revolutionary practice, especially in connection with imprisoned comrades


Why Black August?
Black August is not just a commemoration — it’s a practice of revolutionary discipline, study, and struggle initiated by imprisoned Black revolutionaries. It reminds us that our liberation work must be grounded in depth over breadth, preparation over spectacle, and collective rigor over reaction.
In this spirit, the retreat will be a space to:
  • Deepen political education and strategy aligned with imprisoned leadership;
  • Build durable cross-wall connection and infrastructure for organizing and communication;
  • Study and reflect collectively in the spirit of Black August;
  • Strategize together on how to effectively fight censorship and expand liberatory media and cross- wall resistance for prison industrial complex (PIC) abolition.

Why It Matters: Voices from Inside
Every dollar raised directly supports the participation of imprisoned and outside organizers building cross-wall solidarity under extreme repression. The stakes are high:

“The prison mail room and security typically does not allow mail that may disrupt things... I was told to disassociate myself from ‘radical’ organizations. Needless to say, I didn’t heed the warning—and I will not.” — Charles Reiland, Pennsylvania


“I am always suspecting that the prison system is censoring my mail without telling me…But it does make it difficult to build a relationship with you and others that do the same. Communication is very important in any relationship.” — Christipher Baker, Colorado

“For those of us who grew up with the internet, being removed from the information superhighway is akin to losing the power of speech or sight... denying us internet is denying us a voice.” — Jack Morgan, Indiana

“We need to share our goals with one another, our strengths, our weaknesses—our values... TOGETHER we will get through these storms.” — Kareem J. Cobbins Sr.

“Receiving The Abolitionist is effective, but we need visits, action, legal support—when we’re beaten or murdered, we need the outside to move.” — Travis Jordan

These are just a few of the powerful insights shaping the retreat. We are convening this space to build strategy, fortify resistance, and deepen political trust across walls—and we need your help to make it happen.

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Where Your Money Goes

Our goal is to raise $10,000 by July 5 to cover:
  • Meals & Supplies for 40+ participants
  • Lodging Support for local and traveling comrades
  • Travel Aid for national attendees
  • Mutual Aid for imprisoned participants & local grassroots groups
  • Swag & Materials including art by imprisoned creators

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🛠 Ways to Give
Choose a level that works for you:

🌱 SEED PLANTER – $25
Covers first day meals and materials for one participant

💥 FIRESTARTER – $50
Covers both days of meals and materials for one participant


BUILDER – $100
Supports housing stipend or additional access supplies for one participant (like a mutual aid stipend for an imprisoned comrade to participant remotely)

🛫 MOBILIZER – $250
Sponsors travel for one comrade to attend


🌕 SUSTAINER – $500

Covers food, housing & materials for a full participant experience

🔥 MOVEMENT SPONSOR – $1,000+
Powers the retreat and future cross-wall organizing tools

Or…
Set your own amount and give what you can—every dollar is meaningful.

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🎁 Give & Receive
As a thank you:
  • First 50 donors will receive a free copy of Issue 43 of The Abolitionist, focused on censorship and repression, printing the last week of June 2025.
  • Top 3 donors will also receive a bundle of cross-wall movement media, including archival issues and retreat swag with art from imprisoned comrade

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🌱 Let’s Build the Future Across Walls
This retreat is a critical movement intervention in a time of rising authoritarianism. It is a space for imprisoned intellectuals, outside accomplices, and movement strategists to sharpen tools and forge deeper collaboration and solidarity to abolish the prison industrial complex.
📆 Donate by July 5 to make this gathering possible.
➡️ bit.ly/CrosswallFund
Support the future of cross-wall solidarity. Help us resist repression—and build collective strategy for a world without censorship, walls, or borders.