Extremism for Justice: Minister King X’s Stand Against Systemic Oppression
Location: Friday, September 27th, 1515 S 101st Street, CDCR Headquarters, Sacramento, CA 95811. Time: 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Who is Minister King X? What is This Lawsuit About?
Minister King X is a dedicated community organizer working with California Prison Focus, a non-profit organization committed to exposing human rights abuses within the prison system. Alongside All of Us Or None (AOUON), a collective of current and formerly incarcerated individuals, Minister King is taking legal action against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). The lawsuit centers around the alleged violation of Minister King’s rights during an unlawful and unconstitutional arrest on August 9, 2021. They are seeking an injunction to prevent CDCR from further unconstitutional application of Penal Code section 4571 to all ex-prisoners in California.
Minister King’s Arrest
The incident in question occurred in front of California Prison Focus’s Oakland offices when Minister King was apprehended by plainclothes officers working for CDCR. He was charged under Penal Code section 4571, which criminalizes individuals with prior felony convictions standing “adjacent” to prison grounds and facilities. Remarkably, all charges against him were dropped nine days later, and he was released.
Why Was Minister King Targeted?
CDCR claims that Minister King’s arrest stemmed from his participation in a demonstration near the California Medical Facility (CMF) on July 15, 2021. The demonstration aimed to advocate for the release of Ruchell “Cinque” Magee, a renowned political prisoner charged alongside Angela Davis for their alleged involvement in the Marin County courthouse shooting in 1970.
Disturbingly, police and CDCR reports have labeled Minister King and other activists, incarcerated and formerly incarcerated public figures, and organizations as “Black Identity Extremists” and “Black Supremacist Extremists.” The report even includes organizations like Black Lives Matter, the Freedom Archives, the National Lawyers Guild, the San Francisco Bay View newspaper, the San Francisco 8, and prominent activists and academics. The term “Black Identity Extremist” is a blatantly racist attempt to criminalize political dissidents solely based on their Black identity, a fact acknowledged by the FBI when it ceased using the term in 2017.
What is Unconstitutional About Penal Code Section 4571?
Minister King’s and AOUON’s lawsuit contends that Minister King’s arrest was a retaliatory act for exercising his fundamental rights to free speech and assembly. During the demonstration, he was standing on a public sidewalk outside the outer fencing of CMF. The broad interpretation of this law could potentially criminalize entering a courthouse to address even minor legal matters like a parking ticket. Minister King’s legal action seeks to halt prosecutions under this unconstitutional statute and uphold the speech and assembly rights of formerly incarcerated individuals.
The Struggle for Justice: Minister King X Challenges Systemic Racism and Prison Slavery
- “The Question is Not Whether We Will Be Extremists, But What Kind of Extremists We Will Be”
These powerful words by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., resonate deeply in the ongoing fight for justice against systemic racism and the legacy of slavery in America. Minister King X, a community organizer with California Prison Focus, finds himself at the forefront of this struggle, challenging the very institutions that perpetuate injustice and labeling him a threat for daring to speak truth to power.
- Minister King X vs. the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Minister King X, along with All of Us Or None (AOUON), a group of currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, is suing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) for violating his First Amendment rights. The lawsuit stems from an unlawful arrest in 2021, where Minister King X was charged with violating Penal Code section 4571, a law criminalizing individuals with prior felony convictions from standing “adjacent” to prison grounds.
The charges were ultimately dropped, but the arrest itself, Minister King X and AOUON argue, was a blatant act of retaliation for his activism and advocacy for the rights of incarcerated individuals, particularly those unjustly labeled as “Black Identity Extremists.”
- The Racist Label of “Black Identity Extremist”
The CDCR’s justification for Minister King X’s arrest included allegations of promoting “Black Supremacist Extremist ideology.” This label, along with the broader term “Black Identity Extremist,” has been used to target and discredit organizations and individuals fighting for racial justice, including Black Lives Matter, the Freedom Archives, and even Congresswoman Barbara Lee.
The FBI itself acknowledged the racist nature of this label, announcing in 2017 that it would no longer use the term. Yet, CDCR continues to employ this harmful rhetoric, criminalizing dissent and perpetuating the systemic oppression of Black communities.
- Challenging Penal Code Section 4571
Minister King X’s lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of Penal Code section 4571, arguing that it infringes upon the fundamental rights of formerly incarcerated individuals to free speech and assembly. The law’s vague language and broad application create a chilling effect, discouraging activism and advocacy near prisons and potentially even courthouses.
- Minister King X’s Advocacy for Elderly Incarcerated Individuals
Beyond his legal battle, Minister King X is a tireless advocate for the elderly incarcerated population, often forgotten and neglected within the prison system. He recognizes their wisdom, experience, and potential for promoting peace and reconciliation through art and advocacy.
- Conclusion
Minister King X’s fight against systemic racism and the prison industrial complex embodies the spirit of Dr. King’s call to be “extremists for the cause of justice.” His lawsuit against CDCR serves as a powerful reminder that the struggle for equality and human rights is far from over. It is a call to action for all those who believe in a just and equitable society, where the voices of the marginalized are heard and the legacy of slavery is finally dismantled.
Location: Friday, September 27th, 1515 S 101st Street, CDCR Headquarters, Sacramento, CA 95811. Time: 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM