Here at the Adult Correctional Institution of Rhode Island the Department of Corrections has just banned virtually all publications which are deemed to be anti-establishment. The new Assistant Director of Activities, Jake Gadsen, has put out a inter-department memo to all wardens, and mail room correctional officers. The said memo bans by name the following publications: The Five Percenter, Source, Vibe, Feds, XX-L, URB, Skin Art, Stuff, FHM, Maxim, Paradem, Spin, Arena. In general, any publication which speaks about demonstration, saying how to organize for such are banned.
Also, any publication which is deemed to be counter to the rehabilitative philosophy of the Department of Corrections. Also publications depicting nudity have been banned, in regards to any speaking of or having pictures which can be deemed to report sexual acts. Fox, Hustler, Cherry, Club, Penthouse, Swank, Genesis, Live Young Girls, etc. The only publications which were deemed to be appropriate for admittance were, Time, Newsweek, People, and Playboy. Also all books must come from the publisher only and must be paid for by the prisoner out of his inmate account. No one is permitted to purchase subscriptions for prisoners to have them sent to them.
This new directive smacks dead against the first amendment. However the Department of corrections has little to fear from the courts. The Federal Court which has jurisdictions over the courts these matters in Rhode island has consistently given rulings in favor of the D.O.C. The law library is no longer a right but a privilege if convenient for the D.O.C. to provide the time and service. The D.O.C. is engaged in a policy of racial profiling against Blacks and Latinos via the literature they read. Everything is considered gang material, even is its cultural. Also MIM books have been confiscated and not delivered, stated reason "used books not allowed." This does not appear on any policy as reason for non-deliverance. The real reason is the political viewpoint is not liked. A few of us here have now filed a class action lawsuit against this censorship. We need your support. Please send letters of protest and outrage against this censorship to [and send a copy to MIM]:
Director Ashbel T. Wall 40 Howard
Ave. Cranston, RI 02920
Jake Gadsen 40 Howard Ave.
Cranston, RI 02920
-A Rhode Island prisoner, March, 2002
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