Conferences Normalize Total Abolitionism

Large, public conferences (3,000+ attendees) now showcase panels and publishers that openly advocate abolishing police, prisons, borders, gender categories, family structures, and capitalism, signaling these positions moving from fringe pamphlets into organized mainstream activism. The mix of prominent intellectuals, university faculty, and branded bookselling creates an ecosystem that amplifies and legitimates extreme policy frames. — If gatherings like this become routine outlets for abolitionist agendas, they can shift what activists and journalists treat as plausible policy options and reshape university–public pipelines for radical ideas.