Prisoners launch anti-imperialist newsletter

Royal Rage Volume #1, Issue #1 December/January 2001 PO Box 
1070 Kearny, NJ 07032

Review by MC17

Royal Rage is the official newsletter of the Almighty Latin 
King/Queen Nation (prisons) and it serves the Nation's 
political development well. It starts with a quote from the 
Black Panther Party explaining that education is to prepare 
for the destruction of the ruling class and quotes from Mao 
about establishing good relations with the masses. It also 
includes includes anti- imperialist articles and culture. 
This publication is a strong example of anti-imperialist 
organizing well grounded in revolutionary leadership. 

The editors state, "It is a fact without ambiguity, that 
'freedom of speech' behind the walls, in the kage, within 
modern day cotton fields (prisons), is looked upon with such 
scarcity, that unless it involves issues like high profile 
law suits, bourgeoisified media stunts for their benefit, or 
testimony in/of various forms from x-prisoners, the public, 
the people, will remain blind to many truths. Truth spoken 
by prisoners who have continued to be silenced by the mass 
prisonstocracy (commissioners, administrators, parole 
boards, gang-unit task forces, internal affairs agencies, 
etc.), that live their luxurious lifestyles, feed their 
families, portray an image of greatness & innocence, at the 
expense of our Third World People's lives." They go on to 
explain that political repression against prisoners, 
particularly politically active prisoners, is the norm in 
prison. 

From so-called gang units to censorship, prisoners 
are separated, locked down and silenced when they try to 
organize. It is a feat that takes significant effort to put 
together a newsletter like Royal Rage whose writers are 
likely mostly in isolation. Writers for this publication 
have also been printed in the pages of MIM Notes and we 
welcome continued collaboration as this publication 
establishes a presence both inside and outside the prisons. 
This issue of Royal Rage includes a section of Vieques with 
a number of articles criticizing u.s. occupation of the 
island and u.s. colonialism of all of Puerto Rico. The 
articles give good background information while hitting at 
the issue from different angles. Another section deals with 
the evolution of lumpen organizations including an article 
by Lord Grim reprinted from MIM Notes and letters from the 
United Blood Nation expressing support and respect for the 
work the Latin King prisoners are doing to unite these 
organizations. The final section includes articles on 
culture and poetry. One of the editors, Taino Rodriguez, 
puts this in context writing "Today, grasping on to a 
culture is also a means to escape the alienation felt by 
many of our Third World people & the amerikan cultures 
practiced, since the beginning of colonial rule has been 
established on the exploitation, complete genocide of a 
people, let alone a culture. We must come to understand & 
accept the concept that knowing of the 'Jibaro', his 
instrument of choice or clothing, 'will not be suffice to 
FREE THE JIBARO', that can only be done in action, not the 
sole study & pride of it." MIM welcomes the contributions of 
anti-imperialist groups like the New Jersey prisoners behind 
Royal Rage. We look forward to working with them to build a 
strong united front to educate and organize the people in 
the battle against imperialism.