The HBO America Undercover documentary "Latin Kings: A Street Gang Story" unnerved and saddened me in a way I thought not possible. Emmy award-winning director Jon Alpert followed the life of Antonio "King Tone" Fernandez, former leader (or "Inca") of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (or "Latin Kings").…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Traffic
King Tone, from what i've read and seen was a great leader for latino's..who had to do what he had to do to survive..the streets is hard..other people that don't live that way don't understand...it's, only the strong survive. Anybody got an address to write to King Tone? holla Traffic 408 San Jo, Califas
27 - Andy
Sad thing about this post...a lot of the commenters seem to think that being a "thug" is cool or something. Morons. There seems to be a lot of people who have followed this man in good faith and hopes of bettering life for Latinos. Then there's a bunch of street thugs(King Who) who seem to think that they're bad ass for living a life of guns and drugs.
28 - CHULA
WELL ALL I GOT TO SAY AM A REYNA AND THO KING TONE DID ALOT OF GOOD THINGS FOR US LATINOS AND FOR THE NATION WELL THE ONLY THING I AS WELL AS OUTHER MANITOS AND MANITAS DID NOT LIKE THAT HE PUT THE NATION IN T.V WE DONT BELONG IN T.V. WELL ALL I SAY AMOR DE REY Y REYNA "WE DONT DIE WE MULTIIPLY" WE GROW DAY BY DAY. JUST KEEPING THE DREAM OF OUR PASSED AWAY KINGS AND QUEENS AND KING TONE HAD UNITED AS ONE UNDER ONE CROWN. KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE. 360STRONG ALL DAY EVRY DAY
29 - Mac Diva
Andy, I took the 'does admiring a gang leader tied to drugs and violence make sense?' route earlier. To most of the people who have commented, the point was lost. They do admire King Tone. (Throwing up hands!)
30 - Kribaby
I just wanna say that I met King Tone through my sister when I was 6. He was a very sweet person and threated me with a lot of respect. He had me strong and if I ever see him again I would thank him.
ADR ...... ALMIGHTY LATIN KING QUEEN NATION
31 - GD
KING TONE AINT NO POSITIVE LEADER. IF HE WAS THEN HE WOULDNT HAVE KINGS AND QUEENS GANGBANGING, SELIN DRUGS, KIDNAPPIN, OR KILLIN PEOPLE. IM FROM CHICAGO WHERE KINGS STARTED AND THEY AINT POSITIVE PEOPLE. ALMIGHTY LATIN KING QUEEN NATION KILLA. GDN FOLKS LOVE OR NO LOVE |/ //|\
32 - fabian
where does this gang como from , why do the say a monterrey , do they mean Mexico o que onda , pero saben se me ase chido en persona king tone
33 - BOOGIE
FIRST OFF I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE LATIN KING NATION HAS CHANGED FOR THE WORST, YOU HAVE KINGS SHOOTING KINGS, RATTING ON EACH OTHER AND SO FORTH. THEN YOU GOT THESE NIGGAS TALIKING ABOUT THE BOURIQUAS STRUGGLING(WHICH ALOT OF THEM THEY ARE IM NOT BAD MOUTHING MY LATINO PEOPLES), BUT ITS ALL THE LATINOS THAT ARE IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT STRUGGLE, THATS WHY IT WAS BUILT, IT WAS BUILT BECAUSE LATINOS WHERE GETTING BEAT TO DEATH, STRUGGLING AND "WE" WERE TIRED OF IT,)WE UNITED AND BUILT A HUGE FUCKING FAMILY, TO SEE AN EXAMPLE THERE WAS KING TONE WHICH DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO TOOK CARE OF THE BROTHERSAND SISTERS( WATCH THE HBO SPECIAL, HE DIDNT HAVE NO MORE MONEY FOR GAS,HE FED HIS GIRL AND BABY LIKE ANY RESPECTABLE FATHER WOULD DO, THEY MADE HIM SEEM LIKE HE WAS THE BIGGEST DRUGLORD.,BUT YET IN THE "BIBLE" YOU AINT SUPPOSE TO BE NEAR THAT SHIT ( WHO NEEDS CRACKHEADS ?)BUT TONE WAS A CRACKHEAD TOO)(SEE HOW SHIT IS AINT IN ORDER?!BUT AT LEAST HE CHANGED)....NY ISNT THE ONLY PLACE WHERES THERES HEAVY HITTING LATIN KINGS, GO TO CHICAGO.( THERES MORE PLACES )..CANT WALK NO WHERE WITH OUT SEEING A KING.... I COME FROM A FAMILY OF LATIN KINGS I KNOW WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT,I AINT NO MOTHERFUCKER JUST TALKING OUT OF MY ASS...WELL THATS ALL I HAVE TO SAY, GOD BLESS KING TONE, THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS...ADR...ALKQWORLD....
34 - BOOGIE
OH AND ANOTHER THING....THE LATIN KINGS STARTEDIN CHICAGO....NOT NY....
35 - King Scorpion
Amor De Rey 360 Strong
36 - Nichole
I THINK "KING TONE" HAD GREAT IDEAS AND WAS A GOOD MAN. I DONT KNOW HIM BUT I DONT DOWN HIM. PEOPLE ARE JUST AFRAID OF HIM BEING ON TOP LIKE MLK,THEY WILL ALL STOP HIM FROM BEING THE GREAT LEADER HE WAS AND STILL COULD BE!
AMOR DE REY
MUCH LOVE AND RESPECT TO THE ALKQN "AND IM NOT EVEN APART OF THAT NATION"
37 - td
The basic problem here is the perverted definition of love that has been created by street gangs. The Bible's definition of love is to show care, compassion, and perform acts of love for all Christian brethren. Not just brethren who are wearing red, blue, or yellow. King Tone professes /professed to be a Christian but did not follow the principals of Christianity. I understand the splintering of groups into factions in order to survive and to create a feeling of protection in a country that devalues your very existence. However, King Tone and his gang, unlike MLK, prayed in one breath and defiled God's name and his fellow brethren (people who were not Latin Kings) in the very next. When you profess to know Jesus but continue to committ and promote the very sins that lead to death and destruction among the people you are leading than God and his light is not within you and the leader is Satan. This was something that the women and mothers of the victims in this film understood. When young people do not care about whether they will live or die tomorrow then they certainly won't care about whether anyone else will either. What really needs to happen is first - learn the true Christian principals and commandments. Stop listening to other people tell you what they are and pick up the Bible and read them for yourself. Ask God to provide you with the wisdom to understand them. Second stop pushing poisen to your people - it will kill you and it will make you kill others- It is Satan's best weapon among human-kind. Third, stop missing out on your education - ignorance promotes a feeling of victim-hood. If your school is not teaching you are your children - make them. If every child stopped showing up for a substandard education for at least one week than the school would lose so much money that they would have to fix itself. Hurt them, not yourselves. Fourth - become a community in which everyone (especially parents) help each other again. If your child does not have shoes but my child has two pairs - help the child with no shoes. Fifth- love begins at home and then spreads abroad. Look in the mirror and work on yourself - Stop the vicious gang cycle. Kids are only joining them in the first place because they need to feel protected and love. Tell your children that they matter. Love them -so they will love themselves. They cannot possibly love someone else if they hate themselves. Finally, don't make the continued mistake that started this in the first place - everyone who is different than you is not your enemy. How ridiculous have things become when a person can be shot and killed just for wearing a different piece of clothing? Life is God's gift to us and if you have not found Christ and throw your life in the toilet there is nothing else for you after you are gone - but Hell. But life can be so much more beautiful if you decide it will be.
38 - i|i KKAZ i|i
WATCHING THE 7ATIN KKINGS ON HBO MADE ME WONDER HOW WEAKK THEY REALLY ARE, YES THEY MIGHT OF LOOKKED ORGINIZED,BUT IT STILL DID NOT MAKE UP FOR HOW STUPID THEY LOOKKED. AND IF HE WAS A LEADER HE SHOULD AT LEAST ROLL IN A CAR THAT WORKKS, AND A TRU LEADER NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS THE NATION NEVER BREAKKES APART. I'M NOT HATEING, I JUST FEEL SORRY FOR THEM, MAKKING A FOOL OUT OF THEM SELFS. AND AS A LEADER NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS YOU NEVER SELL DRUGS.AND IF THE LEADER GOES AWAY, NEVER LEAVE A DUMB ASS RETARDED MUTHAFUKKER IN CHARGE TO FUKK UP EVERY THING THEY BUILD UP. OTHER THAN THAT THE SHOW WAS THE FUNNIEST THING I HAD WATCH IN A WHILE.
ON A ANOTHER NOTE FUKK THAT FAG KKING WHO. MUTHAFUKKER AMOR DE KKONEJO PENDEJO. FUKK AMOR DE GAY.
SOUTH EAST SAN ANTONIO TWO-SIX
39 - Ellie
Amor De Rey 4 life
40 - Eric Olsen
The Feds are coming for this post
41 - Queen Bezoz
I respect wat King Tone did I no noboby out der would do sumthin lyk dat 4 us brothas n sistas. I respect wat he did don't care wat ppl say u jus gotta keep ur head up high wit ur bangin as crown. So wat we say 2 dose dat hate can't say nuttin jus 2 keep on hatin holla 1 love 4 lyf
1 4 18 para siempre . Ders nobody could hold us down we always got our head up 2 da sky. Can't wait till Tone out den we gonna no wats da real but we always gotta stay united no matter wat amor para siempre dats wat we can always hold up lo quiero mucho para siempre 1 love
42 - No hay un rey
These people need to get a life. Street gang? Sounds like a support group for weak-minded people. I saw that special, and I don't think King Tone had some great leadership skills or charisma. He was an uneducated, poorly spoken person. I don't have any sympathy for him. That "farewell" to him looked like a damn Hitler youth rally. "Amor de rey" or "Zieg heil", whatever you want to call it, it's mind control over the sheep. These LKs can't think for themselves, and apparently must be told what to do. And as far as staying united while he's in, give me a break. There is no honor among thieves, and even less among murderers and pushers. Let him rot.
43 - James
Sir..are you on Drugs...King Ton, is a criminal..He lived like a animal and is a animal..You are not well educated..what the hell is amor de rey??? Bottom line King Ton is a poor ass spic who needed a real job..Did you see that house..You see how he lived?? A embarassment to the spanish people..
PS..Anyone who said he sounded smart, I don't know what your smoking..must be that shit that King Ton was selling on the streets of Brooklyn all the time..
44 - Taloran
Re 43 by James -
"You are not well educated" - The diction, typography and grammar in your comment indicates that you are not only poorly educated, but semi-literate at best.
45 - Marcelle
I saw the special on HBO and mad love and respect goes out to him and his family.God Bless
46 - S-Train
Sir..are you on Drugs...King Ton, is a criminal..He lived like a animal and is a animal..You are not well educated..what the hell is amor de rey??? Bottom line King Ton is a poor ass spic who needed a real job..Did you see that house..You see how he lived?? A embarassment to the spanish people..
Yes, King TOne is a criminal. But he isn't an animal. He is a human being and far from the worse criminal out there. I was a gang member in my teens. I fought in bloody and meaningless skirmishes with rival gangs. In fact, I was more of a criminal than King Tone when it comes to violence. In one fight, I was stabbed in the belly and left to bleed to death in an alley. Two men found me and saved me (I was almost dead). They didn't judge me and gave me a second chance. That was over 15 years ago. My point is that King Tone should be used better. Throwing him in jail rather than law enforcement using his influence to change is stupid in my opinion. If I can get a chance and I didn't have one-tenth of King Tone's charisma and leadership skills, then he should to.
47 - Taloran
S-Train, you're obviously trying to convince an oafish lout to change his opinion. You might as well argue with the nearest fencepost.
48 - Mac Diva
No Hay said what I think about the Man Who Would Be King, Tal. His supporters are deceiving themselves.
49 - Taloran
Fair enough, MD. You phrase your arguments succinctly and clearly, whether I agree with them or not. James above is neither succinct nor clear. I am not arguing with what he is saying, I am pointing out that his calling someone else unneddicatid is the kettle calling the pot black.
50 - jay
I saw the special on LK, and it was all Bullshit. That "so called gang" isn't shit. I know members that live in NY and PA, that they tell me all the shit that goes down with them and from what he has told me lately is that there all falling apart and they're all snitches on each other. Real members don't snitch and kill each other. I think they're all just scared of the real world and need each other to scare and run people away. I did my share of gangbanging in Washington DC with 200 members deep, and it's not a fun life, but in the 15 years i did it i can say that we were honest to each other like a family not like these LK that i know members of and that shit they showed on HBO. I believe in what King Tone was doing but the fake ass MF that follows in that gang is where all the BS comes from.
51 - i|i KKAZ i|i
FUKK THA 7ATIN OUEERS THEY AINT ABOUT SHIT. FUKK AMOR DE GAY . AMOR DE KKONEJO PENDEJOS. i|i TWO SIX LOVE i|i
52 - Dew
tres bien
53 - i|i KKAZ i|i
HEY S.TRAIN WHAT OTHER SETS ARE YOU STUDIEING. I'M A TWO SIX FROM SAN ANTONIO AND I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW YOU GOT THAT ONE YEAR IS EQUAL TO TWO YEARS IN GANG YEARS. I WAS THINKKING ABOUT IT AND IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. AND ALTHOUGH I DON'T BANG ANY MORE THERE IS STILL A LOT HATE FOR THOSE 7ATIN QUEERS. IT IS ALSO FUNNY THAT TONE WOULD GO TO PRISON FOR NOT SNITCHING ON HIS FELLOW GANG MEMBERS BUT IF THE TABLE WERE TURN THEY WOULD SNITCH ON HIM IN A HARTBEAT. THAT IS WHY I GLAD THAT I GREW UP AS A THIRD GENERATION TWO SIX, BEACAUSE AINT NO SNITCHING AND ANIT NOBODY IN HAED GOING TO JAIL FOR SOME DUMB SHIT. LATERS
54 - King Yota
Keep the 5Alive, Respect your Crown and Our Nation. Amor De Rey!!!!
55 - eric
I saw the documentary on hbo last month and still to this day it resenates in my mind. being a young hispanic man who use to live in bushwick in 95,saw what society and poverty have done to many communities around newyork and other staes I truly feel that he had a great plan in the beginning but he just got caught up in things he shouldn't have, our people still have problems that need to be addressed and I see things for what they are and life is very hard. I recently ran for city council and didnt win, but i learned alot out of dealing with people from different socioecomic backgrounds and races, along with politics and it taught me to be stronger and smarter and I had the oppurtunity to see what really needs to be done and a strong leader can accomplich that. If anyone knows how i can get in contact with tone please forward me his location....... ps i do not support gang activety or violence....we should not kill anyone or each other for petty stuff, we should embrace each other for we all go through rough times together the world would be a better place dont' you think..... the latin kings should not fade. its time that the politicans who represent us do more for our communities and if it takes a group to give the wake up call so be it, but not through violence..... (latin pride) all the way the latin kings group should seek an alternate path of helping people and making life more bearable through there lobbying for better housing,safer streets, taxes,homelessness,drug addiction,employment, health. the government isnt always right and they have also left us at times in crises and there are injustices that do occur here and there so if you havent been through it you probadly wouldnt understand..... etc......thank you eric
56 - elizabeth
I am fortunate enough to be "pen pals" with King Tone. Antonio has helped me out with my criminal justice studies. Although I don't agree with some of the things he's done, he answers all my questions and he is not what the media puts him to be.
57 - king kupa
Amor de rey/ fuk all hattaz this is kuppa 44th chapter to all kingz keep your head up we wii one day rule the world 5 alive fuk 26.
58 - i|i KKAZi|i
FUKK QUEEN KKUPPA, DUMB ASS THE FIVE WILL ALWAYS DIE. CAUSE ITS KKROWN DOWN FIVE DOWN. FUKK AMOR DE GAY. i|i AMOR DE KKONEJO PENDEJA i|i TWO SIX NATION DIS THE KKROWN AND THERE NATION
59 - HW Saxton Jr.
No Mas,No Mas....
60 - Eric Olsen
feliz navidad
61 - Mac Diva
No tip of your crown, Eric?
62 - Eric Olsen
I have been reading with with stunned fascination since the very interesting and perspective-deepening post by our very cool S-Train first came up. It would be funny for all its burlesque but I know it's totally serious, so it's a combination of frightening and pathetic. This is not a world I have ever even peered into, other than DJing some pretty rough schools around LA, but everyone loves the DJ.
But I grow weary of the nearly incomprehensible taunting.
63 - S-Train
Eric, this is a glimpse into the other sitde my friend. I was in a gang for seven years. As I mentioned before, that is 14 years in gang years (each year is double because of the stress and violence). When I posted this, I never knew actual Latin Kings and Queens would post (I have verified some of the posters identities). Indeed, this is a world many don't ever see. And people should since gangs have been part of American culture since the countries beginnings (see the film "Gangs Of New York").
64 - Eric Olsen
I wonder if anything can be done to remove the need for them, at least for those who wouldn't be otherwise criminally inclined.
65 - JAY
If anyone knows who i am able to write King Tone i would apreciate the address. I am a pen-pal for other inmates around the world, and i enjoy talking to alot of the different inmates that i keep in contact with. I think KT is a very strong mind person and i would love to put him on my pen-pal list to talk to! Please if any one can help me out with an Inmate ID # or address of mail, i would really apreciate it. Thanks
66 - oppressedinjerz
I will be the first to tell anyone that the actions of my brother Tone were unacceptable and unjustifiable.
As supreme Inca of New York State he should in no way break one of our own laws. He gambled with the future of our movement and lost. However I know that if the United States government had not gone after him for the drug conspiracy charge they would have charged him with dozens of bogus charges until they eventually got a conviction. Its like Ron Kuby said " The government has no use for the Latin Kings except dead, in jail, or as informants against other Latin Kings".
I know this to be fact not fiction from first hand experience. You see as a 16 year old pee-wee king me and about 200 brothers from new jersey would regularly attend K.Tone's rallies, protests, and teachings. Brother Tone and many older kings reached me at just the right time. They encouraged me to finish school, go to college, and become a professional so that I can be a real Latin King and awaken all third world oppressed people. I did so eventually receiving an Associates Degree in Paralegal studies, landing a good job and raising my 2 kids. However while getting my life in order I also helped my brothers with organizing and teaching youth programs, raising money for the Aids walk, and participating in positive community activities with members of my nation. As a result I along with other members some who like myself have never been in trouble in our lives were secretly indicted with charges of organized crime leaders and racketeering conspiracy. The government seen our positive activities and the name Latin Kings and Queens behind it and decided to get themselves re-elected and promoted while we did half a year in jail wondering what we did wrong. Now I have to worry about who will raise my kids if I go to trial and lose. So as far as the government taking it easy on King Tone so he can keep the kings in check. That will never happen! They knew exactly what they are doing- making money off all of the oppressed. There glad to have kings back in criminal activities in nyc- it brings the government business and promotions.Remember this is what puts food on there table. Unfortunatly Tone fell right into their trap. I'll always have love for him for he helped in waking me up along with the kmc of chi-town. To all Oppressed People in the Struggle! Palante ! Siempre Palante!
67 - king kupa
HEY KAZ 2-6 killa fuck the konejo,those silly rabbits amor de rey.all the way.5 alive.bunny dies hey kaz i from the 210 and know who you are and i know your fagot homeboy mike aka-mr.play boy he goes to Edison high school we stabbed your boys at petro pantry off of blanco & hiderbrand shit i know it was your boyz who stabed k. murder but you know what we got over 3000 kings in san antonio and all of us have bullets with your name on it oh and my home boy king puppet is dropping a dime on 2-shit. fuk blue we out number you bitches we got kings from south cerry street near the alamo dome all the way to the casiano courts you think your hard silly rabbit lets meet up the anual down town carnival on comerse streetyou name the date AND ALL MY FELLO KINGS COME DOWN TO SA-TOWN ON THE 31 of decenber to nock two- shit off the map im out fuk playboy fuk kaz and all hatterz who dont resp ect the crown AMOR De REY-ALL THE WAY BLUE IS FLUE 5-ALIVE WABIT DIES.......
68 - BEAN
KING KEEP UP THE GOOD WORD!
69 - dro
Amor Del Rey stay strong King Tone
70 - Rayna
Even though im not part of the kings i still want to say that it was good what tone was doin with ya'll an that he done everthing he could that was good. So keep ya'lls heads up an one day he'll be able to return to his throne an finish what he started. And tone i want you to know that everyone cares for you an prays for you from all over the country. So keep your head up.
71 - Grimm
Fuck Da Kings and Queens of New York and Chicago. Fuck all ya'll who be running with that falso group of jotos.
Ya'll kings be sayin A.D.R. nah it's A.d.j--Amor Del los Jotos... Your colors suck dick. Puro Blue Rag. Much love to tha East Side West Side and the South Side... The Kings are going to fall 5 by 5 your all going down mothafuckas puro East Side Locos 4rm tha valley FUCK KING TONE AND KIN BLOOD... fUCK THA qUEEN 2 PINCHE PUTAS... bLUE rAG eAST 2 WEST FUCK THA KINGS... iM GONNA KILL A KING TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE ALL ABOUT... eAST sIDE fOLKS nATION... kINGS SUCK EACH OTHERS DICK.....
72 - Grimm
FUCK DA KINGS AND QUEENS OF nY AND cHI-TOWN...
uR COLORS SUCK DICK NO VALLEN ...
eAST sIDE lOCOS.
eAST 2 WEst... What's up to da South..
73 - king kupa
fuk grimm and his blue raG AND E.S.L WHY ARE YOU ON KINGS CHAT GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE KING LOVE OR NO LOVE FUCK THA VALLY AND LOCO 13,EAST SIDE LOCOS AND WHO EVER YOU PUSSYS RUN WITH AMOR DE REY ALL THE WAY BLACK AND GOLD NEVER OLD FUK BLUE,GRIMM AND HIS MOTHE FUCKING MAMA SHE COULD SUCK ON THIS DICK KING LOVE OR NO LOVE IM OUT.,..........
74 - QueenLagrima
ADR tu King Tone.... never met him but he's a manito just like the rest ..... hes with the nation and a KING....Amor De Reina to all my manitos y manitas.... and remember today we celebrate KINGS DAY Jan. 6th.......ADR.... 360 degress strong......
75 - QueenLagrima
^/^/ Yo ADR to King Tone once again and yo King Kupa ADR to you too manito ...... 360 degress strong and yo look at my page on migente.....its QueenLagrima ...... or email me at QueenLagrima@migente.com..... Amor de Reina.......muahhhhh ^/^/