Regular readers of Under Lock & Key will already know that after 14 months of almost complete censorship of MIM in Attica Correctional Facility we began to see signs of progress in October 2002. Thanks to the diligent work of many RAIL comrades and USW leaders who took up the battle immediately after being transferred to the notorious maximum security prison, we now have word directly from the Chairman of Media Review that MIM can send materials to prisoners in Attica. Of course, Media Review reserves the right to censor any material it deems a "threat to security" as it does throughout the NYS DOCS. However, this is a substantial victory. Where previously all letters, MIM Notes and books were returned, now we can expect only the occasional rejection of Under Lock & Key as we see in other NY prisons.
One prisoner who put a substantial amount of energy into this campaign recently met with Chairman Ed O'Mara who has assured repeatedly and in print that MIM will receive the same scrutiny as any other incoming mail. (1) This is significant because previously the mailroom staff had returned materials with notes saying "unauthorized group," and the across the board censorship did not pass through the usual review process where prisoners have a chance to counter the decision. These statements combined with recent reports from prisoners in Attica receiving MIM Notes, indicate that the Attica mailroom staff has begun to follow NYS DOCS policies again. The comrade mentioned above wrote:
"It was due to my appealing a denial to write you to the superintendent of the facility that prisoners are now permitted to write directly to you from Attica. I spoke directly to the Media Review Chairperson and wrote the Superintendent in reference to supposed censorship of MIM publications without following supreme court dictates as set forth in Procunier vs. Martinez. They replied to me that this isn't their policy and that MIM is treated like any other incoming publication."
In one of the recent meetings, Chairman O'Mara showed the anti-censorship postcards that we have been sending to his staff. Over the course of the campaign we have sent hundreds, if not thousands of these postcards, which can be downloaded from MIM's webpage. (1) At this time we are declaring an end to this campaign targeted at Attica. We believe we have demonstrated that we are watching and that we have support both inside and outside. And we turn our attention to other struggles in New York prisons, such as the use of the "Loaf," as well as other anti-censorship campaigns still going on across the country.
Notes: