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 Policing
Budget Proposal on Policing
News article on 2023 protest
Community Safety and Wellness Task Force
Southerners On New Ground (SONG)
Interrupting Criminalization
INCITE
Critical Resistance
BYP 100 Durham
UE 150 City Workers Union
Manju's bio with AORTA