Possibly one of the most wilfully misunderstood bands of all time, there really is no response to right wingers adopting tracks like Killing in the Name Of as anthems other than to sigh heavily and then punch them in the face until they get it. It really couldn’t be any clearer in its condemnation of violent racist cops if it tried, and even if the album closer Freedom is a little more elliptical (hint - “Diamonds using Clubs to beat Spades” is not a reference to the game of Bridge) there is no arguing with the sentiment here.
This album is still as depressingly relevant now as it was on its release in 1992 in the wake of Rodney King being beaten by cops, sparking protests in response. In fact, there is even more urgency now in the need for resistance to fascism, even if that means violence or ultimate self sacrifice as shown in the chilling picture of the death of the Tibetan monk Thich Quang Duc on the cover.
Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me-tastic!
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