LEGACIES OF RESISTANCE IN CA PRISONS 

A new series on the history of imprisoned-led resistance in California, and what it means for the fight to close prisons today.

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California's prisons have always been sites of resistance. This series traces how. We begin at CTF Soledad, where George Jackson organized, where people built programs without state support, and where imprisoned people continue to fight back.

In February 2026, the LAO issued a rare recommendation to close CTF Soledad, citing $379M in needed repairs, $150M in annual savings, and continued population declines. 

Every open prison has a story like this one. There is no “wrong” prison to close. But there is a wrong way to do it.

Governor Newsom should announce another prison closure in the May budget revision. We call on @cagovernor to adopt a plan that:

1. Prioritizes the release of the over 19,000 elders in state prisons   

2. Addresses the harm incarcerated people experience during the transfer process

3. Utilizes community-based criteria in the closure selection process

4. Reinvests savings into community care & economic solutions for impacted towns

5. Demolishes or repurposes closed facilities for non-carceral use