Another attack on Liberation content: “Indiana Prison Ban San Francisco Bayview Newspaper”

“ This kamp brings out the very best in a brother, or it destroy themselves entirely. But none are unaffected... I know that they will not be satisfied until they’ve pushed me out of this existence altogether. I have been the victim of so many racist attacks that I could never relax again.”- George L Jackson.

The San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper is a monthly publication dedicated to liberation journalism since 1976. Found by outspoken social activist and journalist, Willie & Mel's Ratcliff, a married couple from the Bay Area, California. I have received the newspaper since 2004.

The overall messages of San Francisco Bay View is diverse, yet centered around the spiritual, economic, political, educational, and social liberation of the poor class and people of color. solidarity amongst the People is another powerful theme of the publication. Not only covering local Bay Area in California issue, this newspaper corresponds to National and international issues of importance.

Let's not forget the political prisoners struggle in general. The Bayview dedicates a Behind Enemy Lines section for progressive prisoners to express themselves from all over the US and abroad. Never have I read any article there of a prisoner voicing violence or reactionary rhetoric, rather, only inspiring my own growth and development.

Other sections “Shop in the Neighborhood”, “Editorial”, “Culture Currents”, “Building the Beloved Community” are equally inspiring and informative. However, these sections are dedicated to the reader in society, altho the incarcerated a reader can learn what is happening and prepare themselves for a productive re-entry using the information.

This is why, I, and many other prisoners here at Pendleton Correctional Facility are livid that our SF Bayview Newspaper has been confiscated in the mailroom since November 2015 until present. On the mail confiscation for it reads: “ Prohibited Property-Newspaper-Denied by Internal Affairs (STG).

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As you see, there is no answer as to why the Bayview is being confiscated. But Internal Affairs security Threat Group (STG) was mentioned. What does San Francisco Bay View has to do with STG? Nothing to a logical and humane observer.

However to overt a tacit racists, alike, working in the STG Department, anything involved in political and theological liberation for the poor and people of color is a threat. A security thread in and out of prison. We have seen this behavior in 1960-70s by the FBI, led by bigot J. Edgar Hoover when he attacked the Black Panther Party to the malicious and Insidious counterintelligence program (cointelpro). When the Panthers represented no racist or political reactionary stance, unless the FBI saw their food, clothing, educational program and advocacy for self-defense and self-dependence as criminal. They did, and still do.

We see examples of these same methods when the poor and people of color rally against racism, capitalism, gender discrimination, or police brutality. The youth movement of #BlackLivesMatter is always attacked by the media, politicians and police. When their protest is against police violence and murder of people of color.

There’s this tacit, blatant racist mockeries to the #BlackLivesMatter movements, like White Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, or even critiques asking, What about the black on black violence that happens more than police killings? All these things take the #BlackLivesMatter out of context of being a group of black youth who are concerned with a particular issue that is negatively affecting their communities.

Here recently, we have seen the media backlash to R&B and pop star, Beyonce's Super Bowl 50 halftime performance of her new song “Formation.” Since the Super Bowl was held in Santa Clara, California, Beyonce’ dance ensemble dressed in black and berets, moved in an X formation while holding up a sign “Stop Police Brutality-R.I.P Mario McDonald” (a youth murdered by San Francisco police), as a tribute to the Black Panthers and Liberation struggle of the Bay Area.

Days after the performance different police organizations spoke out against B, accusing her of inciting violence against police, and that they would not work security at her Formation Tour. But Minister Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, announced that the Nation would hold security for Beyonce free of charge, if need be. All because the world's biggest R&B pop star send a Liberation message to the people. Here at the PCF, the powers-that-be are attacking the SB Bay-view Newspaper for its Liberation content. Anything that aspires the poor or people of color to help liberate themselves, will always be a threat to people who want to keep us in captivity and in second-class conditions.

Since prisoners at PCS were receiving positive and progressive content, that appeals to them and their culture, it's deemed a security threat? Where is the rehabilitation in that? There is none. Specially when we observe how much more the Prison Industrial Complex needs prisoners to come back once released, to feed profits thru mass incarceration.

Like Commander George Jackson, I, too have been the victim of so many racist attacks while incarcerated that I never can relax. The banning of the SF Bay-view Newspaper is yet another racist attack towards me and others. Rally with us to make PCF respect all of our First Amendment rights to liberated thought.