The presence of rapists in our communities is not an argument for prisons or policing.

Prisons uphold rape culture.

Instead of asking, "What about the rapists?" ask yourself: How do you respond to survivors who share their experiences of abuse and assault?

If you don't know what to do, or say, try this: "Thank you for sharing your experience with me. I'm so sorry this happened to you. Is there anything I can do to make you feel safe?"

And if you see a serial rapist/abuser building a platform, intervene. Say: #NoPlatformForRapists.

I know a lot of folks are struggling to reconcile our abolitionist values with legitimate anger about rape, abuse, and gendered violence in our communities. While I don't presume to have all the answers, I do have some thoughts that I want to share.

You don't have to cut off everyone in your life who has caused severe harm. Whole communities must take responsibility for our role in promoting abusive + oppressive behaviors. We also don't have to allow known abusers + predators into spaces where they can prey on others.

We all have work to do to interrogate the ways that we perpetuate, enable, + uphold oppression. As I've said before: We all breathe in air polluted by rape culture. We have to constantly and consciously work to reconcile our abolitionist values + practices in our everyday lives.