Toni Toston v. Michael Thurmer

POSNER, Circuit Judge.

The plaintiff, an inmate of a Wisconsin prison, brought this suit against prison officials under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, complaining of violations of his rights of free speech and due process. The district judge dismissed the due process claim and granted summary judgment for the defendants on the free speech claim, with which we begin.

The plaintiff had checked out two books from the prison library, and he also purchased (with the prison’s permission) a copy of To Die for the People: The Writings of Huey P. Newton (1972) — the founder of the Black Panthers. The plaintiff…