You can help bring books to people behind bars

Many people in prison did something that landed them there. Many people in prison have been wrongly incarcerated, arrested for the sake of their skin color, the limited options available to them due to their economic fortunes, or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, everyone in prison deserves a chance to better themselves and broaden their horizons. That’s something that reading can do for a person. But you’ve got to have books for that. It’s something Haymarket Books is dead set on ensuring inmates have something to read during the cold weather.

In an effort to support those inside who are dealing with the immense violence of the prison system, we want to do what we can to connect people with radical books and opportunities for political education. We have worked for many years with organizations that send books inside, and we are expanding those efforts.

This Holiday Season, we are raising funds to send books inside. Our goal is to send at least 2,000 books this winter, and we are asking for your help to cover some of the costs of books and shipping. Any amount raised above our goal will allow us to send additional books inside.

Money’s tight for a lot of us right now, and for those who celebrate with their loved ones at this time of year, the next few months won’t be any less expensive. But if you can spare anything, Haymarket could use your help. America’s prison system is in a bad state and has been for a long time. With fists full of former prison personnel leaving for better-paying jobs as ICE scumbags, it’s not going to get any easier inside for the folks doing time. A book is a small pleasure. But I’m betting it could mean the world to folks who have lost their autonomy. If you’re so inclined, you can donate here.