Victory ends Texas prison ‘Militant’ ban! Ban fights continue in Florida prisons

Support is growing for the fight to overturn prison bans on six issues of the Militant by Florida officials.

Issues nos. 4, 5 and 6 were impounded at the Taylor Correctional Institution in Perry, Florida. Officials targeted front-page articles in each issue that reported on labor-backed, disciplined protests against attacks on immigrant workers in Minneapolis and called for amnesty for workers without papers in the U.S.

They claim this coverage “is dangerously inflammatory,” encourages “riot, insurrection, rebellion,” and “presents a threat to the security” of the prisons.

Militant attorney David Goldstein filed an appeal March 18 to the Florida Department of Corrections Literature Review Committee.

“Like virtually every news organization in the U.S., the Militant has regularly reported on the protests in Minneapolis related to the current Administration’s immigration enforcement,” he wrote.

Goldstein asked whether prison officials are “objecting to some or all of the Militant’s viewpoints: not supporting ICE? Advocating for amnesty for immigrant workers? Advocating for peaceful union and worker-led organizing and protests? Believing in working-class solidarity?”

Deputy Director Corene Kendrick and Director David Fathi of the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project, and Daniel Tilley, legal director of the ACLU in Florida, wrote to prison authorities March 19.  They have appealed “improper censorship of the Militant multiple times before,” they write. “Regrettably it appears this constitutional violation has occurred once again.”

“Nothing in these articles advocates violence, insurrection, or disruption of prison operations,” they say. “Rather, the reporting describes public demonstrations and debates about immigration policy in the United States. The articles repeatedly emphasize the importance of peaceful and organized protest.”

The Militant received a letter from two prisoners in Oregon supporting the reversal of the ban. “No agency or government has the authority to limit any right which the U.S. Constitution bestows upon its citizens, with minor exceptions,” they explain.

The administration at Taylor then banned two more issues, nos. 8 and 9, citing front-page articles reporting on the Militant’s efforts to overturn the earlier impoundments! In addition, Lancaster Correctional Institution authorities in Trenton, Florida, denied an inmate Militant issue no. 7. The impoundment notice cites the front-page article “SWP call to action: US hands off Cuba! End Washington’s economic blockade!” as the cause of the ban.  The Militant is  appealing.

Support the fight to reverse the bans in Florida. Help get letters from unions, churches and prominent individuals defending workers’ rights and free speech.

Send them to the Literature Review Committee, Florida Department of Corrections, 501 South Calhoun St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-2500, or email to Melvin.Herring@fdc.myflorida.com and Saritza.Legault@fdc.myflorida.com, with a copy to themilitant@mac.com.

To view or download a copy of  any or all of the support letters click on one of the buttons below.