California prison officials label Minister King X a ‘Black Supremacist Extremist’ – King fights back

December 3, 2025

Minister King X, a community organizer with California Prison Focus and All of Us or None, is suing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation after being arrested in August 2021 for allegedly violating a law that prohibits formerly incarcerated individuals from being near prisons without permission. Although charges were dismissed, the arrest report labeled him and others as "Black Identity Extremists" and "Black Supremacist Extremists" due to their participation in a protest. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 and represented by Legal Services for Prisoners with Children and the Law Offices of Richard Tan, argues that his arrest violated First Amendment rights and that the statute is unconstitutionally vague and disproportionately targets Black and Brown activists.

Who is affected

Minister King X (plaintiff and community organizer)
Black and Brown formerly incarcerated individuals
California Prison Focus and All of Us or None (AOUON) organizations
Elderly incarcerated individuals whom Minister King X advocates for
CDCR employees including the CDCR Secretary (named defendants)
Sheriff of San Mateo County (named defendant)
Activists and political prisoners targeted under Penal Code section 4571

What action is being taken

Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC) and the Law Offices of Richard Tan are representing Minister King X in the lawsuit
Civil rights leaders are hosting a press conference on December 4, 2025, outside the Robert T. Matsui U.S. Courthouse
A hearing is taking place on December 4, 2025, in the case King v. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Minister King X is advocating for elderly incarcerated individuals and the rights of all prisoners

Why it matters

This case challenges a California statute that restricts formerly incarcerated people from being near prisons, which advocates argue violates First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly. The lawsuit addresses the use of racist terminology like "Black Identity Extremists" and "Black Supremacist Extremists" by law enforcement to vilify activists and organizations such as Black Lives Matter. The case highlights how the law disproportionately impacts Black and Brown communities already facing excessive incarceration rates and prioritizes recriminalization over rehabilitation. If successful, the discovery process could reveal government tactics used to suppress community organizing and political activism among formerly incarcerated individuals.

What's next

If plaintiffs are successful at the December 4, 2025 hearing, the lawsuit will advance to the discovery process
The discovery phase is expected to potentially shed light on government tactics used to repress free speech and community organizing

Read full article from source: San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper