California Coalition for Women Prisoners

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California Coalition for Women Prisoners

Grassroots organizing with members inside & outside jails/prisons, challenging violence against women, transgender people & communities of color by the PIC

08/21/2026

We had a full house at Tuesday’s Free Joan Little documentary screening in Berkeley. Thank you for showing up, uplifting the critical work of director Yoruba Richen and her team, and supporting CCWP’s organizing to combat prison abuse today. So grateful for our partners at La Peña, Freedom Archives, and Center for Political Education. Special thanks to Ericka Huggins for joining the discussion alongside Yoruba, Aminah Elster, Janelle White, and Rayvn McCullough. When we fight, we win!

08/18/2026

TONIGHT! 💥 Bay Area folks we hope to see you for this critical documentary screening and discussion. Doors open @ 7PM.

Ticket sales support the work of CCWP. But no one turned away/payment not required!

Hosted alongside La Peña Cultural Center, Center for Political Education and Freedom Archives as part of their When We Win political education film series.

08/01/2026

Now on Substack! 🗞️ This Dispatch was inspired by “Fashioning Hope out of Despair,” a chapter written by Palestinian leader and former prisoner Khalida Jarrar in the book Our Vision for Liberation. We seek to strengthen awareness of the central role of Palestinian prisoners in the resistance with a special focus on women prisoners. We link the struggle to free Palestinian prisoners with the U.S. prison abolition movement and the fight for gender justice.

For 30+ years, CCWP has monitored conditions in women’s prisons and built power and collective care across the walls. While our members have always been involved in Palestine solidarity work, we expanded these efforts in 2023 and continue to highlight stories and calls to action for Palestinian prisoners, especially women.

Do not stop talking about and organizing for a free Palestine. We hope this newsletter helps us stay clear-eyed, up-to-date, and active to resist the ongoing US/Israeli genocide and uplift all prisoners.

07/23/2026

Celebrate Black August with us by attending the Bay Area premiere of the new Free Joan Little documentary and meeting the filmmaker, Yoruba Richen.

We will screen the film before hosting a panel discussion — more details coming soon! ⛓️‍💥

Hosted by CCWP in conjunction with La Peña Cultural Center and Freedom Archives as part of their When We Win film series.

06/27/2026

Have you seen the latest issue of The Fire Inside, CCWP’s newsletter that’s been running since 1996? You can always find the link in our bio. ⛓️‍💥

06/25/2026

Mark your calendars & get your tickets! 🎟️

Join CCWP and partners for a premiere Bay Area screening of FREE JOAN LITTLE, a new documentary telling the story of the 1975 groundbreaking case of Joan Little who was the first woman in U.S history to be acquitted for using deadly force to resist sexual assault.

At 20 years old, Joan Little, a Black woman, was incarcerated in North Carolina when she killed a white jailer who tried to r**e her. With rare archival footage, contemporary interviews and the folk anthem by Sweet Honey and the Rock that carried her story, FREE JOAN LITTLE captures the spirit of resistance that made history.

Let’s honor Black August by uplifting this critical victory, its context in the Black Liberation struggle, and connecting with organizing efforts happening now.

🎤 Panel and Q&A with Yoruba Richen, Film Director & Producer — alongside survivors & advocates resisting prison staff abuse today
❤️‍🔥 Honoring activist elders who were part of the Free Joan Little campaign - please reach out if you know anyone who participated!

06/09/2026

We mourn the tragic losses of Tamara and Betty. 🤍🕊️

On March 26, 2026, CCWP and the Policy Advocacy Clinic at UC Berkeley Law issued a comprehensive report—”No Time to Wait”—on the dire living conditions and need for release of the 740 elders in CA’s two women’s prisons, Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla and the California Institution for Women in Corona.

We have since had two additional, unnecessary deaths of women incarcerated at CIW: Tamara Hinkle (age 49), who served over 30 years on a Life Without Parole sentence; and Elizabeth “Betty” Broderick (age 78), who served over 22 years.

This loss of life is preventable. We must strengthen and expand release pathways for people in women’s prisons, including via Elderly Parole. Contact your legislators today and urge them to protect this vital program.

06/02/2026

Learn the backstory of CCWP’s memorial quilt honoring survivors of forced sterilizations, and how the art pieces represent resistance, healing, and community care in the face of state violence.

06/01/2026

TOMORROW!!! 📣 There’s still time to register — please take a minute to RSVP so we have the proper headcount for food. Updated panelists listed here. Can’t wait to see ya’ll.

Address

4400 Market Street
Oakland, CA
94102

Website

http://www.womenprisoners.org/

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