This is an archive of the former website of the Maoist Internationalist Movement, which was run by the now defunct Maoist Internationalist Party - Amerika. The MIM now consists of many independent cells, many of which have their own indendendent organs both online and off. MIM(Prisons) serves these documents as a service to and reference for the anti-imperialist movement worldwide.

Censorship continues in California Salinas Valley State Prison

I wanted to inform you of the censorship that I am experiencing since my arrival here in Salinas. I was told that I could not receive your publication, MIM Notes. They told me that it was inciteful and destructive to the safety and security of the institution. I will continue the struggle against oppression and censorship, however, I can receive used books as long as they come from a distributor/bookstores/publisher. I am enclosing ten 37 cent stamps in support of the movement; it's not much, but being that I have nothing but my convictions and beliefs, it is the best I can do at this moment in time.

-- a California prisoner at Salinas Valley State Prison, August 2003

CCI Tehachapi

Here is an update on the appeal of the censorship of MIM Theory 11. The appeal was denied at the 2nd level of review for the following reasons: 1. They say an article about C/O violence against Blacks and Latinos promotes racism. 2. They say MIM's doctrine of armed struggle against imperialist U.S. promotes violence. These are the 2 reasons they did not let MIM Theory 11 in. I have submitted the appeal for directors level review (3rd level). We'll see what happens. I am preparing to file 21983 should it be denied.

-- a prisoner at CCI Tehachapi, August 03

MIM responds: It is the C/O violence against Blacks and Latinos that is racist, not our exposure of this practice. And it is very convenient for the prisons to say that anti-imperialism promotes violence. Of course they fail to censor imperialist media which is the biggest promoter of violence in the world today. This double standard allows the prison to censor all revolutionary literature while allowing reactionary propaganda in. Our comrades behind bars are doing all that they can to fight these clear cases of censorship targeting revolutionary literature. We need people on the outside to step up and help with the fight. Lawyers can help with the legal battle, and others can write letters of protest to the warden at the prison:

Warden Art Calderon,
California Correctional Institution
PO Box 1906
Tehachapi, CA 93581

Pelican Bay State Prison

MIM mailed me a book not too long ago but the institution disallowed the book package due to the book being used. The book was destroyed as per gulag policy (I don't have the funds on my trust account to send stuff out.) Enclosed is a book address label that must be attached to the outside of the book package. All books must be new and must be sent from a book store, and must be paperback. Also the vendor's stamp and business number must be included in the small box in the upper left hand corner of the label.

-- a prisoner at Pelican Bay, California, August 2003

MIM responds: Requiring books to be new and from a bookstore means MIM can't send prisoners at PBSP any books at all. Our Books for Prisoners program relies on donations of books as well as books we can buy cheaply from used book stores. We don't have a bookstore from which we can mail them, nor do we have the funds to purchase new books. This effectively censors all prisoner book programs, restricting prisoners to the non-existent prison libraries for their reading materials