Access to books is a fundamental part of learning, personal growth, and intellectual freedom. Yet incarcerated people face significant barriers to obtaining reading materials, as highlighted in a recent Book Riot report on prison censorship.
Emancipate NC is proud to represent clients Firestorm Books, an independent bookstore in Asheville, and Asheville Prison Books, a volunteer collective providing free books to incarcerated people in North Carolina and South Carolina. Together, they are challenging South Carolina prison policies that restrict incarcerated people to receiving books from a limited list of approved commercial vendors, blocking access to free books from community organizations and independent bookstores.
Emancipate NC Strategic Director Elizabeth Simpson is serving as co-counsel in this important litigation, defending the constitutional rights of incarcerated readers and challenging restrictions on access to literature.
These policies disproportionately affect people who cannot afford to purchase books, limiting access to education, new ideas, and stories that reflect their experiences. Incarceration should not mean losing the ability to read, learn, and explore the world through books.
We are proud to stand with our clients in protecting the freedom to read and ensuring that access to knowledge does not end at the prison door.
Read the full report here→
Artwork by Dawn Blagrove