https://themilitant.com/2018/08/24/join-fight-to-end-prison-officials-censorship-of-the-militant/
Join fight to end prison officials’ censorship of the ‘Militant’!
By Brian Williams
Vol. 82/No. 33
September 3, 2018
A Militant subscriber at the Greenville, Illinois, federal prison won a
victory there Aug. 15 — he was released. The fight against the prison
warden’s decision to ban the paper while he was there remains undecided.
This is an important issue for all workers behind bars and all defenders
of political rights. At issue is whether prison authorities have the
right to censor publications they don’t agree with.
Warden Tom Werlich banned the paper on the grounds that it “is a
newspaper journal associated with the Socialist Workers Party and
encourages change by protesting and striking.”
Letters are still being sent to Federal Bureau of Prisons Regional
Director Sara M. Revell, urging she rule that this censorship must be
overturned. One subscriber who wrote Revell is an inmate at the Illinois
state Lawrence Correctional Center in Sumner. “It would seem to me that
the Bureau would be encouraging its prisoners to utilize those
principles which are set forth in the Constitution, allowing all
citizens to seek redress for grievances through peaceful endeavors,”
George Peter Jr. wrote. “I therefore respectfully request that you
reexamine the Bureau’s decision to ban the Militant.”
He sent the Militant a copy of his letter, along with a note saying that
he has continued to get the paper since he was recently transferred to
Lawrence.
“As a former U.S. Navy veteran, concerned citizen, and college
professor,” writes Dr. Zoe Franklin from Chicago, “it is my view that
there is no legitimate reason for the Militant newspaper to be banned
from the Greenville, Illinois, prison other than to prevent inmates from
access to First Amendment rights.”
“We are asking readers and defenders of political rights to continue to
write to Regional Director Revell urging her to overturn the ban,”
Militant editor John Studer said Aug. 20. Address letters to Gateway
Tower II, 8th floor, 400 State Ave., Kansas City, KS 66101-2492.
Fight against Florida prison censorship
Meanwhile, prison authorities in Florida continue to ban issues of the
Militant, either because they have ongoing coverage on the fight against
censorship in Florida state prisons, or without giving any reason —
which they are required to do under state regulations.
The latest includes banning five issues in a row — July 9 (no. 25) to
Aug. 6 (no. 29). Prison authorities at the Florida State Prison and
Tomoka Correctional Institution did so without sending notices to the
Militant informing them about the impoundments.
The Militant found out about the censorship from inmate subscribers or
the chair of the Department of Corrections Literature Review Committee.
After receiving inquiries and protests, the committee reversed almost
all of these bannings, said Militant attorney David Goldstein, of the
prominent civil liberties law firm Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Krinsky
and Lieberman, but one was allowed to stand.
The impoundment of issue 26 was reversed, but that of issue 25 was
upheld — even though the reason for censoring both was that they
reported on the fight against Florida prison censorship. State officials
declined to tell Goldstein what the difference was.
On Aug. 8 issue no. 29 was impounded at the Tomoka Correctional
Institution. The reason? “Page 1-3.” No explanation. The articles on
these pages are “Socialist Workers Party launches 2018 Campaigns,”
“Protesters Demand ‘Release Video!’ in Cop Shooting of Chicago Barber,”
“New Openings for Working Class as Imperialist ‘World Order’ Unravels,”
“Protests Across South Iraq Hit Gov’t Neglect, Iran Intrusion,” and
Woman’s Right to Abortion Is Debated in Northern Ireland.” “Page 1-3,”
the warden writes, “depicts, describes or encourages activities which
may lead to the use of physical violence or group disruption” and
“presents a threat to the security, good order, or discipline of the
correctional system or the safety of any person.”
“Banning the Militant is an unconstitutional attack on the rights of the
Militant, our readers behind bars and freedom of the press,” said
Studer. “All working people need the right to read and discuss what is
happening in the world and to hear the working-class perspectives of the
Socialist Workers Party to help chart a road forward for our class.”
Those who have spoken out against prison censorship of the Militant
include the American Civil Liberties Union, National Lawyers Guild,
Amnesty International, PEN America and prisoner rights groups.
In This Issue
Front Page Articles •Witch hunt by liberals against Trump a danger to
workers
•US, Turkish rulers clash over course in Mideast
•SWP: Speak out against bosses, gov't attacks, abuse
•White nationalist rally shows less support for racism in US today
•Join fight to end prison officials' censorship of the 'Militant'!
•Demand US rulers sign peace pact ending the Korean War!
Feature Articles •‘Teamster Bureaucracy’ is a must read for workers today
Also In This Issue •Working people welcome Eritrea-Ethiopia peace deal
On the Picket Line •Workers at Indiana construction site walk out
against racist firings
•Puerto Rico teachers protest ‘worst school start in decades’
•Teachers in New Zealand strike over pay, conditions
Books of the Month •Fidel Castro: ‘Maurice Bishop was a true revolutionary’
25, 50 and 75 years ago
Corrections
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