Tracking Prison Censorship in the United States

also cites and (15)(p) otherwise presents a threat to the security, order or rehabilitation objectives of the correctional system or the safety of any person.

Page 35: any prisoner actively opposing revolution should be eliminated ASAP
Page 38: revolutionary action gave rise to an alternate political, ethical and moral universe where established terms like "murder" and "killing" failed to convey the meaning of taking lives that many believed deserved to be taken.
The whole publication uses past violence to justify future rebellion.

May 22, 2024

ATTN: Library Services Administrator
Department of Corrections
501 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2500

Re: Notification of Rejection or Impoundment of Publications

To Whom It May Concern:

We are in receipt of your censorship notice for the publication Tip of the Spear sent to one XXXXXX XXXXXX DC#XXXXXX at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution, dated April 2, 2024, which we received on May 10, 2024. A copy of this notice is enclosed within.

The listed reason for censorship is that Tip of the Spear allegedly violates sections (15)(i) and (15)(p) of Rule 33-501.401, FAC in that it “is dangerously inflammatory in that it advocates or encourages riot, insurrection, rebellion, organized prison protest, disruption of the institution, or the violation of federal law, state law, or Department rules” and/or “otherwise presents a threat to the security, order, or rehabilitative objectives of the correctional system.” Furthermore, the notice lists two excerpts from pages 35 and 38 to support these allegations.

As distributors of Tip of the Spear, we know that no material fitting any criteria of the above description can be found anywhere in the publication. The book describes a significant historical event that occurred in the context of a correctional facility in the United States, but in no way does this description “advocate or encourage” acts of riot or rebellion. As for the aforementioned excerpts, one is a quote from a prisoner who participated in the Attica riot and one is a description by the author of the riot participants’ mindsets at the time. This is obviously an inane basis on which to censor the publication as it is akin to censoring a historical work which focuses on World War II for being antisemitic merely for mentioning the Holocaust or Nazi Germany.

We request the decision to withhold Tip of the Spear be vacated and the publication be forwarded to Mr. XXXXXX. Failure to provide appropriate notice and adherence to your policies may result in legal action.

Please govern yourself accordingly.


Sincerely,