This article is part of our Organizing Stories Project, where political activists educate and inspire with tales of past victories. Read all about the Project here.
My first brush with political organizing happened when I was in high school. I was on the school newspaper, “Drops of Ink”*, at Libertyville Public High School. It was at the time when my friends and I were becoming politically aware, and we were incensed about US foreign policy in Central America — especially the Reagan administration’s support for the contras, the right-wing terrorists wreaking havoc in Nicaragua. We were also furious about the administration’s support for the racist apartheid regime in South Africa. And in addition to worldly political matters, we were faced the usual “high school administration vs. freethinking student” drama.
We wanted to write about these things in the school paper, normally a bastion of bland stories touting the great time everyone had at the sock hop, or celebrating the accomplishments of our mediocre football team. But the woman in charge of “Drops of Ink” wasn’t having it. She was not interested in articles in support of the Sandinistas and the African National Congress, and she was certainly not interested in articles about how the Dean was a dick.
So, there was a mass defection from the official school newspaper to a new, underground newspaper called the “Student Pulse”. I was not the spearhead of this endeavor, but I was a supporter, and I contributed many articles to this new publication. Due to the persistent doggedness of its student editors, the “Student Pulse” soon came to have twice the circulation of the official school newspaper.
The administration didn’t like it. They told us that we were not allowed to print or distribute the paper on school property, and then they threatened to suspend us. We then called in the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), to back up our claim that freedom of expression extended even to high school students who disagreed with their high school administrations.
After a bitter campaign, our high school backed down. The “Student Pulse” enjoyed a two-year tenure as a tremendously vital, informative, and funny voice for the radical student body. By standing up to the administration, taking bold action, using our creativity, and most importantly, standing together, we were able to carve out a little bit of truth and justice in a conservative suburb of northern Illinois.
* Incidentally, Adam Jones of the band Tool, a high school comrade of mine, was the illustrator of “Drops of Ink”, and created some of the funniest cartoons of all time about alleged affairs between the coach’s wife and certain members of the student body.
Axis of Justice is a non-profit organization formed by Tom Morello and Serj Tankian. Its purpose is to bring together musicians, fans
of music, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice. 
Tom -
Only you can decided where you direct your efforts. There’s an immense ammount of injustice and pain and suffering in this world.
But there’s an Apartheid Regime subjecting children to malnutrition right now. And now, you’ve got even more means to do something about it.
Have you ever considered organizing a fundraiser to sponsor a relief boat for Gaza? The “USS Ghost of Tom Joad”?
I have a feeling you’d have no problem getting acts to play the bill.
HELLO, RATM because you did not want to televise your concert in MADRID IN ROCK IN I LAUGH
Great story! It’s fantastic; really inspiring, especially for people my age who are in high school at the moment. It proves that even at an age where your opinion may seem insignificant to most, you can still get it out there and, most importantly, INFORM people of the important issues going on in the world.
A huge percentage of my school don’t seem to give a shit about worldly issues, but I’m going to make it my aim to at least let them know, and hopefully interest them, and, if I’m really lucky, hopefully inspire them like you and Serj have me.
You’re really great guys and I’m so glad I’ve discovered this.
Hey Tom, I have an unuasl request. My nephew was recently killed in Afghanistan, due to an IED. He and his team of Australians were set up by remote control. My point being is that Iam trying to set up a support network for his 3 yo son Mason,and wife Angela. At his funeral in Brisbane were a hip hop band called the Herd, whom sang a beautiful rendestion of a song called, ‘I was only 19′.
Having been an overseerer of my nephew Darren’ s life, your band RATM was his favourite, with memorys of me and my nephew Darren trying to outdo ourselfs in the guitar department. He decided to follow the line of Hip Hop, and with the outstanding talent here in Australia, he found himself following local hip hop artists, The Hill top Hoods. At his funeral, his favourite hip hop band ‘The Herd’, payed there own way to Brisbane, and sang the song, I was only 19. An anthem to Australin soldiers, song in the bellows of Australian music. What I propose to do now is, produce a song for my my nephew’s son, Mason, entitled ‘It hurts’. (Mason)
As a former percussionedst 20 years ago, I now have a beat in my blood stream, and heart, I believe from my nephew.I know you guys are probably sick of this type of shit, but I am intent o0n following this through with my fellow Australians.
Any constructive critisisim wouldnbe appreciated.
I have , I believe a song which needs to be sung, thanks to my nephew, stirring in my blood. It hurts. Iplayed drums some 20 years ago, but believe you me, could easily roll some skins, and them some.
I will now try to communicate with the said bands mentioned, i”n regards to making a song, I can now here in my head, “It hurts. Will send a picture along with my request. Believe it or not , I here my nephew singing …………..
Regards SAPPA Smith.
I’m surprised that more people don’t comment and get involved in the site I just joined today, but have been a huge RATM fan for years. I’ve recently gotten the use of internet for the first time and I think it would be awesome to do an online version of The Pulse for high school kids around the nation. Get people who use the site to print out copies and distribute them to the youth around their area who are limited with their communication such as lack of internet access. Maybe I’m just rambling.
no fuckin way you went to the same high school as i graduated from. I hung out with some roudy kids who were the same way, the teachers and faculty hated us and so did the cops. we were a bunch of anarchist punks who challenged the system, just like you did. although it lead to no avail as we got no reckignition, we just got arrested, but that’s not what its about and you would know this, the best comparison i can make is if you make music, no, if you really make music you do it for the music, not for the reckognition and the money.
Ich kann meinen.. daß dat irgendwie interessant ist. Naja kann Jeder das für zu seinem eigenen überlegen was er oder sie macht.
Matthew Wickman,
I just read your post, and think it’s an AWESOME idea! Maybe create a website directed at kids to make them more politically aware of what’s going on not just in the U.S. But the world. Give them the opportunity to voice their opinions, since their communities try to quiet them (which is why kids won’t vote when they turn 18 and have no clue what injustices are still going on).
I like the story of the Student Pulse, In school I remember a newspaper, just wish I could of understood the concept of being involved in school;back then. Oh well I can’t go backwards I can only forward.
Hi Tom, I’m just one of your fans here in Kenya.
I’ve been raising awareness regarding some of the issues you address, mainly by getting people into your music. I think I’ve turned hundreds of pop fans from my high school into RATM addicts, just like myself. But there’s only so much I can do!
It’s time you cam down to Kenya. The corruption now is beyond imaginable. These punks steal our money to buy land, huge mansions, Mercedes, all kinds of shit that they’re to selfish to realize they don’t need - not when we have millions of Kenyans living in the harshest of conditions!
They’ve got no shelter, no education, no hope, no dreams, nothing, Tom. We need someone like you down here.
P.S. I love the guitar with the Kenyan flag theme going on!