SCI Mahoney Declares War on Mumia Abu-Jamal’s Books
Greetings.
Mumia Abu-Jamal is at the heart of what we do here at Prison Radio—and has been for over three decades. Before his incarceration, Mumia was already an accomplished journalist: news director at WDAS and a reporter at NPR’s flagship station, WHYY. He continued reporting from behind bars, defining what it means to produce radio essays and journalism from the inside. In 1992, we became his radio producers, recording and broadcasting his essays.
As censorship has escalated and retaliation increased, we’ve evolved into organizers and legal advocates—not just producers.
We litigate. We agitate. And we know his freedom will be realized. But along the way, there are battles.
Here is another one.
SCI Mahoney has declared war on Mumia’s books and papers.
Mumia Abu-Jamal has been imprisoned for 43 years and lives under Death by Incarceration (DBI)—the slow death row—also known as LWOP (Life Without the Possibility of Parole.) Throughout his incarceration, prisons have tried to deny nourishment: fresh air, healthy food, and sustenance for the mind—books and correspondence.
During his 29 years on death row, Mumia was allowed only 10 books at a time. He often had to choose between keeping Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon and Vincent Harding’s There Is a River.
Now, we’re seeing a return to this kind punishment for asserting his humanity and his prodigious intellectual output.
Mumia during his visit with the legendary and indomitable Selma James, Nina Lopez (of Global Women’s Strike & Crossroad’s Women’s Center) and myself, Noelle Hanrahan, Esq. on April 17, 2025. “They would rather have a censored and silent Mumia Abu-Jamal,” the prisoner said.
SCI Mahoney recently issued a memo requiring prisoners to dispose of all personal belongings that can’t be contained in four “record boxes.” These boxes are just 10 x 16 x 10 square. This kind of arbitrary limitation is petty, isolating, and retaliatory. But it’s especially difficult for Mumia—a scholar who has spent over 43 years in prison and is currently writing his PhD dissertation.
Imagine being forced to part with nearly all of your personal effects—everything that doesn’t fit into four small boxes.
Mumia asked if Prison Radio could receive his materials and help distribute them—books to his PhD advisor at UC Santa Cruz, and papers to his archives at Brown. We’ve made those arrangements. We’re also managing a record and catalog of his books so we can send them back to him as he needs them for his studies.
Mumia is in the homestretch and will soon be finishing his dissertation.
Prison Radio is committed to Mumia Abu-Jamal’s freedom. We are accompanying him on his journey to liberation by visiting, listening to his needs, and working to publish and promote his radio essays and books.
Please join us.
When We Love, We Win.
When We Survive, We Win.
When We Fight, We Win.
Noelle Hanrahan is the founder and director of Prison Radio. She is also a licensed private investigator in Rhode Island.