Join fight against Attica censorship!

Continuing their assault on freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the humanity of workers behind bars, Attica prison officials impounded the Militant for the third time in two months. We urge working people and all who value these rights to join us and step up the fight to overturn this attack.

Efforts by the propertied rulers, their cops, courts and jailers to undermine the rights and dignity of prisoners aim not only to isolate and demoralize those behind bars, but to weaken basic political rights critical to the working class.

Attica censors impounded the Oct. 3 issue, which featured the front-page article, “Fight Continues 45 Years After Attica Rebels Said, ‘We Are Men, Not Beasts.’” They claimed reading the factual history of the 1971 Attica protest “could incite rebellion against government authority.” When the Militant appealed this ruling, won messages of support, and wrote about it in the Oct. 31 edition, officials impounded that issue too. Now, they’ve banned the Nov. 21 issue on the absurd grounds that a picture of the front page of the Oct. 3 Militant “could incite violence against prison staff.”

We ask readers to join in defending the rights of Jalil Muntaqim — a former Black Panther Party member, long-time fighter for political rights behind bars and the Attica inmate whose subscription keeps getting seized. Prison officials continually attempt to break Muntaqim’s confidence and spirit by cutting him off from other prisoners and the world, throwing him in solitary, interfering with his mail and harassing him. Write to Anthony J. Bottom, #77A4283, Attica C.F., P.O. Box 149, Attica, NY 14011-0149.

The Militant succeeded in beating censorship by prison authorities in Florida last year and in other states over the years. It can be beaten back again.

Every victory helps open the political space for workers behind bars to read, study, share and learn from any book or paper they want, to maintain contact with the world, form their own opinions and express themselves freely. It breaks down barriers between workers fighting boss and government attacks on the streets and those demanding their rights inside the rulers’ prisons.

Help get statements of support for the Militant’s fight against censorship. Spread the word about the fight, win support from your union, church congregation and other defenders of political rights, and contribute to the costs of the appeal!

Related articles:
Attica prison censors ‘Militant’ for third time

Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home