The Militant is winning support for reversing the impoundment of three issues of the paper by prison authorities at the Taylor Correctional Institution in Perry, Florida. They impounded issues nos. 4, 5 and 6, dated Feb. 2, 9 and 16. The reason the authorities give in each case is their objection to front-page articles on the need for a labor-led fight for amnesty for immigrant workers in the U.S.
The ban is a blatant violation of the constitutional rights of prisoners to receive and read a newspaper of their choice and form their own opinions, and of the right of the Militant to reach its subscribers.
Prison officials claim these articles are “dangerously inflammatory in that it advocates or encourages riot, insurrection, rebellion, organized prison protest, disruption of the institution, or the violation of the federal law, state law, or Department rules.”
And that they present “a threat to the security, order, or rehabilitative objectives of the correctional system or the safety of any person.”
The Militant was informed Feb. 18 that the Florida state prison Literature Review Committee has upheld the first impoundment and will now review the other two. Militant attorney David Goldstein is preparing an appeal of all these bans.
Far from being inflammatory, let alone urging disruption, riots or insurrection, all three articles argue for mass, disciplined protests to defend the rights of immigrants.
The article in issue no. 4 by Mary Martin argues against the call by Democratic Socialist Minneapolis City Council member Robin Wonsley for confrontations with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. “This is a course for disaster,” Martin writes. “What’s needed here and across the country is a union-led fight for amnesty for all undocumented workers, a movement that would unify the working class. One that immigrant workers and others can participate in and help lead.”
In the article in issue no. 6, author Edwin Fruit describes “the powerful example set by immigrant workers and their supporters in 2006 and 2007, as they led mass actions involving millions in cities, town and villages all across the U.S. Their banner was, ‘We are workers, not criminals.’”
“I am writing on behalf of PEN America, the 103-year-old U.S. branch of the world’s leading international literary and human rights organization, to call upon the Florida Department of Corrections to reverse its decision to impound issues No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 of the Militant,” Tim Richardson, the group’s program director on journalism and disinformation, said in a letter sent to the Literature Review Committee Feb. 24.
“It is clear that none of this subject matter invokes violence or threats, but rather seeks to present important national and international events that are pertinent to the lives of their readership,” he added. Authorities actions are “an unwarranted restriction of freedom of the press and prisoners’ rights.”
Others who have submitted letters demanding the ban be overturned include the Florida Press Association, which represents all the daily and most of the weekly newspapers there.
The Militant is urging defenders of free speech, freedom of the press and prisoners rights, as well as unions to send letters urging the reversal of the ban.
They should be sent to: Literature Review Committee, c/o Saritza Legault/Melvin Herring, Library Services Administrator Florida Department of Corrections, 501 S. Calhoun St., Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-2500. Or emailed to Melvin.Herring@fdc.myflorida.com and Saritza.Legault@fdc.myflorida.com, with a copy to the Militant.