After the nationwide revolt across the United States, beginning with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the incarcerated political activist and journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal asked the following questions: What do we do now? What is to be done? How can this be directed towards really revolutionary ends? 

Michael Novick of Anti-Racist Action-Los Angeles said, “People need to rethink what is possible and what is necessary, because the quantitative leap in numbers should represent and enable a qualitative leap in resistance.”

In support of revolutionary action, I commit to the following 2021 New Year resolutions. They are both personal and political. As my foremothers said, “The personal is the political.” 

1. I commit to my sobriety and addiction recovery. In the event of a relapse, I re-commit to living clean and sober. As an Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous member, I will seek a sponsor and work the 12-step program.
2. I resolve to support the abolitionist demands of #DefundThePolice!
3. I will continue to pursue my education as an incarcerated student toward my associate’s degree in arts and humanities from San Bernardino Valley College, Coastline College, and Hartnell College.
4. I will continue to participate in rehabilitation and self-help programs, such as the integrated substance use disorder treatment program and classes sponsored by the outside advocacy group Amity Foundation.
5. I will start a regular exercise routine at least three days a week and will make a conscious effort to limit my food intake with the goal of losing between 20 to 30 pounds.
6. I will continue my poetry workshop lessons, writing and journalism mentorships, and work on completing my memoir.
7. I will complete my electrolysis in the next few months and be scheduled for my pending sex reassignment surgery after a final medical consultation. The surgery was  approved over two years ago and has been repeatedly delayed.
8. I will request transfer to a women’s facility under California’s new law, The Transgender Respect, Agency and Dignity Act (SB-132), before surgery.
9. I will continue my work with abolitionist, anarchist and transfeminist collectives, particularly as a co-founder of the Fireant Collective, a collaborative organization for anarchists, as a legal advocate for the Transgender-Variant and Intersex Justice Project and as a core member and organizer for Red Roses, a trans prison collective. 
10. I will also use hashtags whenever appropriate.

#BlackTransLivesMatter
#SayHerName
#NoJusticeNoPeace
#DefundThePolice
#Schools Not Prisons
#FreeThem All
#ClemencyNow
#EmergencyReleaseNow
#FreeHer

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The Personal is the Political: New Year’s Resolutions for 2021

by Jennifer Rose, Prison Journalism Project
March 17, 2021

<h1>The Personal is the Political: New Year’s Resolutions for 2021</h1> <p class="byline">by Jennifer Rose, Prison Journalism Project <br />March 17, 2021</p> <p>After the nationwide revolt across the United States, beginning with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the incarcerated political activist and journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal asked the following questions: What do we do now? What is to be done? How can this be directed towards really revolutionary ends?&nbsp;</p> <p>Michael Novick of Anti-Racist Action-Los Angeles said, “People need to rethink what is possible and what is necessary, because the quantitative leap in numbers should represent and enable a qualitative leap in resistance.”</p> <p>In support of revolutionary action, I commit to the following 2021 New Year resolutions. They are both personal and political. As my foremothers said, “The personal is the political.”&nbsp;</p> <ol> <li> I commit to my sobriety and addiction recovery. In the event of a relapse, I re-commit to living clean and sober. As an Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous member, I will seek a sponsor and work the 12-step program. </li> <li> I resolve to support the abolitionist demands of #DefundThePolice! </li> <li> I will continue to pursue my education as an incarcerated student toward my associate’s degree in arts and humanities from San Bernardino Valley College, Coastline College, and Hartnell College. </li> <li> I will continue to participate in rehabilitation and self-help programs, such as the integrated substance use disorder treatment program and classes sponsored by the outside advocacy group Amity Foundation. </li> <li> I will start a regular exercise routine at least three days a week and will make a conscious effort to limit my food intake with the goal of losing between 20 to 30 pounds. </li> <li> I will continue my poetry workshop lessons, writing and journalism mentorships, and work on completing my memoir. </li> <li> I will complete my electrolysis in the next few months and be scheduled for my pending sex reassignment surgery after a final medical consultation. The surgery was&nbsp; approved over two years ago and has been repeatedly delayed. </li> <li> I will request transfer to a women’s facility under California’s new law, The Transgender Respect, Agency and Dignity Act (SB-132), before surgery. </li> <li> I will continue my work with abolitionist, anarchist and transfeminist collectives, particularly as a co-founder of the Fireant Collective, a collaborative organization for anarchists, as a legal advocate for the Transgender-Variant and Intersex Justice Project and as a core member and organizer for Red Roses, a trans prison collective.&nbsp; </li> <li> I will also use hashtags whenever appropriate. <p class="" data-rte-preserve-empty="true"> </li> </ol> <p>#BlackTransLivesMatter<br />#SayHerName<br />#NoJusticeNoPeace<br />#DefundThePolice<br />#Schools Not Prisons<br />#FreeThem All<br />#ClemencyNow<br />#EmergencyReleaseNow<br />#FreeHer</p> <p>This <a target="_blank" href="https://prisonjournalismproject.org/2021/03/17/the-personal-is-the-political-new-years-resolutions-for-2021/">article</a> first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://prisonjournalismproject.org">Prison Journalism Project</a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<img src="https://i0.wp.com/prisonjournalismproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/cropped-PJP-favicon-2.png?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;"><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://prisonjournalismproject.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=1047&ga=" style="width:1px;height:1px;"></p>

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