Text version of the Militant, a socialist newspaper  
the Militant, a socialist newspaper
about this site directory of local distributors how to subscribe submit a photo or image order bundles of the Militant to sell
news articles editorials columns contact us search view back issues
The Militant this week
IN SPANISH
El Militante
IN FRENCH
Le Militant
MILITANT AUDIO
Audio issues
an audio version of the Militant in English
FRONT PAGE ARTICLES
‘Militant’ fights prison censorship in Florida
‘Danger to all who support freedom of speech’
 
Zimbabwe coup takes place amid Beijing rivalry with Washington
 
SWP expands reach of party, ‘Militant’ in working class
 
US gov’t moves to expel immigrants from Haiti, Central America
 
Seeds of more conflict built into new stage of Syria, Iraq wars
FEATURE ARTICLES
Retail giants’ competition spurs holiday job speedup
Socialist Workers Party 2016 Campaign click here for information and literature from the Socialist Workers Party 2016 campaign
New International a magazine of Marxist politics and theory from 1934 to the present
Intercontinental Press an international news magazine published from 1963 to 1986
Perspectiva Mundial a socialist magazine in Spanish published from 1977 to 2005
Documentary
Record of Militant Fightning Fund
Click here for the record
SUBMIT LETTER TO THE EDITOR
SUBMIT FORUM
SUBMIT TO CALENDAR

A socialist newsweekly published in the interests of working people                              
Vol. 81/No. 46      December 11, 2017

 

MILITANT INDEX

1980-2017
Available Online
Breaking News: ‘Militant’ wins victory
against Florida prison censorship
See letter
(front page)

‘Militant’ fights prison censorship in Florida

‘Danger to all who support freedom of speech’

Florida prison officials impounded Nov. 6 issue of the Militant, above, accusing it of encouraging “riot, insurrection.” Among articles and ads were ones promoting Idaho silver miners strike solidarity rally, above right, and protests against U.S. embargo of Cuba.
BY SETH GALINSKY
In an escalation of their violations of the constitutional rights of both the Militant and its subscribers behind bars, Florida prison officials have impounded nine issues of the paper so far this year. That’s nearly as many as the four previous years combined!

And unlike most previous attempts by Florida authorities to block the Militant, which singled out one or another article, the latest attempt alleges that the paper itself “encourages protesting and group disruption.”

Almost all the impoundments from 2013 to 2016 were overturned when the Militant challenged them. But so far this year, the Florida prison systems’ Literature Review Committee has upheld nearly half.

David Goldstein, the Militant’s attorney from the prominent constitutional rights law firm Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Krinsky and Lieberman, informed the committee that the paper is challenging the prison’s censorship. Already supporters of freedom of the press and the political rights of prisoners are speaking out in support of the appeal.

“Workers behind bars have a constitutional right to read material of their choosing,” wrote the New York Riverside Church Prison Ministry, calling on Florida officials to reverse the impoundments in a Nov. 27 letter to the Literature Review Committee. “To attempt to silence the Militant’s voice represents a danger to anyone who cares about freedom of thought, inquiry and expression.”

According to Florida regulations, once one prison bans an issue, all the rest follow suit. The latest impoundment was ordered by officials at Jefferson Correctional Institution in Monticello. They claimed the Militant is “dangerously inflammatory in that it advocates or encourages riot, insurrection,” and that it “encourages activities which may lead to the use of physical violence.”

The prison censors don’t identify which articles they say offend their guidelines, but headlines on the four pages they cite demonstrate the absurdity of the charges:

“Protest US Economic War Against Cuban Revolution!” “GIs Come Back From Horrors of Imperialist War to Carnage at Home,” “Don’t Vote for Either the Democrats or Republicans,” “Working-Class Solidarity Got Many Out of Harm’s Way in Calif. Wildfire,” “Walmart, Amazon Bosses Fight for Profits, Make Workers Pay,” “Brigadistas Learn About Cuba, Organize to Defend Revolution” and “Oscar López: ‘Cuba Gives Us Best Example of Resistance.’”

These pages also feature ads promoting a “Rally and march for silver miners on strike” in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and a “Rally to defend Cuban Revolution at the United Nations” in New York.

What is it here that prison officials consider “dangerously inflammatory?”

Florida officials also impounded the Oct. 30 issue, citing an article that reported on the Militant’s challenge to other issues of the paper they barred, even though the Literature Review Committee had said previous impoundments on this basis were invalid and ordered those issues delivered to inmate subscribers.

Over the last year the Militant has won broad support for its fight against censorship. Among the groups that have spoken out are the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, PEN America, the National Lawyers Guild, Amnesty International USA and the American Friends Service Committee.

“In the midst of the deepening capitalist economic crisis, working people need a paper that tells the truth and that explains the need to unite and organize independently of the bosses’ parties,” Militant editor John Studer said. “Our fellow workers behind bars are part of this world. They have a right to read news about the deteriorating conditions workers face today and their efforts to change them, to consider different views and to form their own opinions.”

“This is a question of the freedom of the press,” Studer said, “and also of the basic human rights of prisoners.” He called on all supporters of political rights to join the fight against censorship.

Printer logo 
Printer-friendly version of this article