As we go to press, the Militant is still waiting information from the Florida Department of Corrections Literature Review Committee on the outcome of its July 18 hearing. On the agenda was the paper’s appeal of the banning of Militant issue no. 17 by the Jackson Correctional Institution in Malone, Florida.
It’s been over two months since the impoundment with no explanation of the delay. Letters continue to be sent to the Literature Review Committee urging the ban be overturned. It was May 17 when the paper got notice from authorities in Malone saying they had impounded the Militant dated April 29 for running a photo they claim “shows dead person being paraded around on a motorcycle; magazine depict hatred toward a specific race.” Militant attorney David Goldstein filed an appeal May 23.
“I understand that Florida’s Jackson Correctional Institution banned an April issue of the Militant from subscribers in that institution based on the use of a widely distributed photograph of a Hamas member showing off the body of an Israeli kidnapped into Gaza, arguing that it was tantamount to incitement,” wrote Julie Paris from Pittsburgh to the Literature Review Committee July 17. The Militant has “been one of the few publications to share the truth about who Hamas is, what they represent, and the threat they pose to the Jewish community and the wider world.
“They share these images not to incite, but rather to expose the barbaric acts of this internationally recognized terrorist organization,” she added, “and to share the fight that Israel faces in defeating the terrorists who have promised to repeat their actions over and over again. I hope that you will reverse your decision and allow their subscribers to learn the truth about what happened on October 7.”
From Bluffton, South Carolina, Scott Thompson wrote, “The ban violates prisoners’ First Amendment rights. The reasons for the ban reported in the news — that a photo of a Jewish man murdered by Hamas is inflammatory and encourages violence — are not persuasive and, frankly, sound pretextual, in light of the State’s prior efforts to cut off access to the newspaper.”
Prison authorities claim the photo encourages “riot, insurrection, rebellion” and “organized prison protest.”
“Workers behind bars have the same rights as those outside prison walls to read about the world, consider different views and form their own opinions without interference by prison authorities. The fight against Jew-hatred is important for all working people,” said Militant editor John Studer. “We will fight every attempt by prison authorities to ban the Militant.”
Over the past decade Florida prison officials have tried to suppress issues of the Militant nearly 50 times. The paper challenged every ban and has won the vast majority.
Letters calling for the ban to be overturned have been sent by the American Civil Liberties Union in Florida and nationwide; Florida Press Association; PEN America; Amnesty International; and many others. If you would like copies of any or all of these letters, contact the Militant.
