At a time when states across the world are silencing dissent, the stories of political prisoners offer an unflinching map of resistance. Join us for a conversation focusing on three “democracies” — the United States (often styled the “oldest”), India (the “largest”), and Israel (branded the Middle East’s “only”) — to trace how they mobilize courts, police, and prisons to suppress political movements. We’ll explore the criminalization of dissent, the laws and courts that enable repression, and the solidarity that persists behind bars, featuring authors, editors, publishers, and organizers connected to Manifestations of Thought, The Trinity of Fundamentals, and How Long Can the Moon Be Caged?
From Black political prisoners targeted for confronting white supremacy, to Indian activists and scholars charged under sweeping security laws, to Palestinians held as hostages in Israeli jails, we examine how power consolidates through carceral control and how resistance persists. What do these cases reveal about the nature of democratic rule today? And what solidarities are needed to meet the moment?
Suchitra Vijayan is an essayist, lawyer, and photographer working across oral history, state violence, and visual storytelling. She is the author of How Long Can the Moon Be Caged? Voices of Indian Political Prisoners and founder of the Polis Project.
Eugene Puryear is journalist, writer, activist, politician, and host on The Freedom Side, a weekly show by BreakThrough News.
Lameess Mohammed is an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement. PYM focuses on campaigns like Mask off Maersk to demand a global arms embargo, international fundraising initiatives for Gaza, mass mobilizations, and political education projects like the translation of The Trinity of Fundamentals.
