Changing the World Through Abolition: Manju Rajendran of Durham Beyond Policing

Host Max Rameau talks with Manju Rajendran of Durham Beyond Policing. Together, they discuss the landscape of organizing in North Carolina, abolition, healing justice, and the work of building and maintaining community.Manju Rajendran is a facilitator, trainer, conflict transformation practitioner, and organizer with 27 years of local, state, regional, and national-level experience. Her work is grounded in popular education pedagogy and healing justice. Manju is a trainer with Ready the Ground Training Team, member of Sanctuary Beyond Walls, and part of Durham Beyond Policing. Manju is a queer, working class, South Asian immigrant woman who grew up in North Carolina. Her father organized with the local NAACP chapter and her mother was active in public schools, so she was brought up in meetings and community gatherings. She brings an expansive network of intentionally-sustained relationships with peers and mentors with her, especially from across the Southeastern US, and remains accountable to the communities who raised her.Links to topics mentioned on this episode:Durham Beyond PolicingBudget Proposal on PolicingNews article on 2023 protestCommunity Safety and Wellness Task ForceSoutherners On New Ground (SONG)Interrupting CriminalizationINCITECritical ResistanceBYP 100 DurhamUE 150 City Workers UnionManju's bio with AORTASupport the show