The Florida Department of Corrections Literature Review Committee has upheld the ban on Militant issue no. 17 that was put in place by the Jackson Correctional Institution in Malone nearly four months ago. More letters are needed in the fight to get this reversed!
“The impoundment was upheld on July 18,” wrote Library Services Administrator Saritza Legault to Militant attorney David Goldstein Aug. 21. “I have set the Publisher’s Appeal and all of the associated letters of support to be reviewed at the next meeting on August 29, 2024.”
No reason was given why the ban was upheld.
“This fight has stakes beyond just the Militant. The impoundment violates prisoners’ constitutional rights to read political literature of their choice and the right of the Militant and other publications to reach their subscribers behind bars,” said Militant editor John Studer.
“Now is the time to step up the fight to get the ban reversed. Dozens of letters have been sent. More are needed to speak out against this blatant attack on prisoners’ constitutional rights. Help spread the word,” he said.
The confiscated issue contained an article reprinting the opening chapter of Pathfinder’s latest book, entitled The Fight Against Jew-Hatred and Pogroms in the Imperialist Epoch.
Prison authorities expressed objections to a photo there that shows the body of a Jewish man murdered by Hamas during its Oct. 7 pogrom in Israel being driven around Gaza City to cheers by Islamist thugs and their supporters.
Jackson Correctional Institution officials wrote, “Picture shows dead person being paraded around on a motorcycle. Magazine depict hatred toward a specific race.” They then claimed the photo and the newspaper itself are “dangerously inflammatory,” encouraging “riot, insurrection, rebellion” and “organized prison protest.”
“It is worth noting that the photo in question,” David Lefrancois, a professor at the University of Quebec, wrote to the Literature Review Committee, “is in no way intended to promote hate speech or racial prejudice. To understand the meaning of the photo, it is imperative to consider its historical and geographical context, which is well explained in the article.
“Like other observers throughout the USA, Canada and elsewhere,” he said, “I appeal to you to resolve the matter as soon as possible by ensuring respect for the rule of law and constitutional rights.”
Upon learning of the impoundment in mid-May, Militant attorney David Goldstein appealed. After two months of silence, the Literature Review Committee wrote him it would review the ban July 18. It took another month before the Militant was informed of the committee’s ruling.
Since 2013 Florida prison officials have tried to suppress issues of the Militant nearly 50 times. The paper challenges every ban and has won the vast majority.
From the Florida American Civil Liberties Union to the Florida Press Association, Amnesty International USA, to a number of prisoners in Florida, numerous organizations and individuals have sent letters urging the committee to overturn the ban. Join them!