ACA Censors ACU

In a letter to the American Correctional Association, the International took issue with the association's refusal to publish an ACU advertisement in the ACA 2002 convention guide. The letter called the decision "an appeasement to the private-prison industry and a blatant attempt to stifle the voices of public-sector corrections employees."

In the past, ACU has purchased booth space at several ACA-sponsored conventions in order to distribute information on workplace safety, professionalism in corrections, the controversial track record of private prisons and the fight against inadequate working conditions. In addition, ACU has twice attempted to place ads in ACA's convention program guides, but both submissions were rejected because of content.

It's clear that ACA is intimidated by ACU's opposition to prison privatization, and is afraid to let the truth out to corporate vendors. "ACA's rejection of the ACU ad illustrates the private prison industry's pressure and influence over the ACA, its policies and events," AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee said. "ACU's ad is rejected, but the private prison companies are allowed to place pro-privatization ads. It appears that the ACA conventions have become nothing more than a marketing platform for prison privatization."

ACA's decision left AFSCME with no choice but to cancel ACU's participation at the Anaheim 2002 convention.