TO: The readers of People’s World
FROM: Melissa Parks, PW Print Edition Editor
Let me start by thanking you for being a loyal reader of People’s World. If ever there was a time well spent reading this publication it is now, with so many literal life or death issues facing all of us.
I can say from personal experience that some of the articles I have read really impressed me. The most captivating story that’s captured my attention in recent years was one concerning the imprisonment of Native American Leonard Peltier.
He was granted clemency by former President Joe Biden before he left office. But before Mr. Peltier was released, he went through harsh treatment. Even during the pandemic, he was denied parole despite his failing health. How profound it is that he’s finally home, sharing new and positive experiences with his family. And People’s World was on top of his story for many years.
People’s World provides stories that describe the true meaning of human struggles, of the everyday, average American people.
Very seldom will you read about stories of this type in the corporate media. But stories on working class struggles and the fights for the rights of all people are the kinds of articles being produced every day of the week by People’s World.
The job I do at People’s World is in itself an example of why this publication is so special. I prepare a weekly edition in print that summarizes several of the online articles of the week.
What is really important about this is that we send it out to incarcerated people across the country, as well as a few seniors who live in nursing homes, where they have no computer access.
For many years, one of the people on the mailing list to receive the weekly People’s World print edition was none other than Leonard Peltier—that’s why his name was constantly on my mind.
Our incarcerated friends are so grateful to receive People’s World. Each copy is read by many people, as recipients share it with other individuals they are interacting with. Those new folks, in turn, write to us asking to be added to the mailing list.
I recently received a letter from one such individual who was upset with himself that he didn’t discover us sooner. He read a fellow inmate’s copy and immediately wanted his own subscription.
He thanked us for the hard work that goes into the paper and its informative and well-written articles. His letter said, “Please keep up the good work and quality reporting—Thank you!”
The corporate media outlet is beholden to the billionaire clique. They don’t deal with or address the huge incarcerated section of our population.
Keeping a large number of people incarcerated enables the ruling class to more effectively exploit all of us, and it is People’s World that understands this and raises awareness of its in its coverage of the war on workers.
To do what we do, we need funds, and that is where you come in.
If you’re a regular reader, thank you. If you’ve donated before, thank you for that, too. But could you pay a little more for your paper? Could you become a monthly sustainer? There’s a check box on the website to make the process easy. Donations and sustainer contributions keep us going; they help pay for things like the weekly print edition for incarcerated readers.
So please, donate whatever you can. And tell your family, friends, and neighbors to read us and then donate, too.
People’s World belongs to you. It belongs to all of us.
Sincerely,
Melissa Parks
Print Edition Editor
CONTRIBUTOR
