Tom Morello, Serj Tankian and Roman Morello Release “ADJOURN IT,” an Anti-ICE Protest Song

Tom Morello, his teenage son Roman Morello, and System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian released the single “ADJOURN IT.” The collaborators said the song was written in response to recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles, which they described as “Gestapo-like tactics” that disrupted neighborhoods, forced business closures, and resulted in children being taken from schools. The track’s title is intended as a call to end what the artists view as a rising tide of fascist policies and white-supremacist rhetoric.

Tom Morello Explains Political Message Behind New Song With Serj Tankian

Both Morello and Tankian have a long history of political activism through music. In 2002 they co-founded the Axis of Justice nonprofit, which aims to raise awareness of social-justice issues and promote grassroots activism within rock and metal communities. Their partnership has produced multiple protest songs and benefit concerts over the past two decades, establishing a pattern of using music as a platform for political commentary.

Tom Morello Explains Political Message Behind New Song With Serj Tankian

• Tom Morello – Guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, longtime activist against immigration enforcement policies.

Tom Morello Explains Political Message Behind New Song With Serj Tankian

• Serj Tankian – Lead vocalist of System of a Down, vocal critic of family separations and white supremacy.

Tom Morello On His New Anti-ICE Track With System Of A Down's Serj Tankian: "We Want To Get Rid Of The Rising Tide Of Fascism"

• Roman Morello – Son of Tom Morello, guitarist on “ADJOURN IT.”

Tom Morello Explains Political Message Behind New Song With Serj Tankian

• Axis of Justice – The nonprofit organization founded by Morello and Tankian that continues to support social-justice initiatives.

Tom Morello On His New Anti-ICE Track With System Of A Down's Serj Tankian: "We Want To Get Rid Of The Rising Tide Of Fascism"

During the interview, Tankian referenced a reported figure of 27,000 children whose parents have been deported, describing the situation as a national trauma.

Tom Morello On His New Anti-ICE Track With System Of A Down's Serj Tankian: "We Want To Get Rid Of The Rising Tide Of Fascism"

Morello explained that the song was a direct artistic response to the Los Angeles raids, emphasizing that music is the medium through which he can act “while we can, with what we’ve got.” Tankian added that the track seeks to draw attention to family separations, court-process disruptions, and broader fascist trends, urging listeners to “stand up for justice.” Both artists positioned the single as the lead single from Morello’s upcoming solo rock record, his twenty-second album.

Tom Morello Explains Political Message Behind New Song With Serj Tankian

• “The idea to create a song like this came up during the DHS and ICE raids in Los Angeles, when the streets of L.A. were being terrorized by Gestapo-like tactics, people combing through the neighborhoods, businesses having to shut down, children being abducted from school — an absolute reign of terror on our city. And I thought, ‘We have to do what we can while we can with what we can.’ And with us, that’s making music.” — Tom Morello, Guitarist

Tom Morello On His New Anti-ICE Track With System Of A Down's Serj Tankian: "We Want To Get Rid Of The Rising Tide Of Fascism"

• “I mean, I read that there’s 27,000 children whose parents have been deported. And it’s really a trauma for this country. And we have to learn how to deal with these things the right way. We have to learn how to stand up to fascism in the right way. And so this is a great way for us to do [it]. This is what we do. We do music.” — Serj Tankian, Vocalist

Tom Morello Explains Political Message Behind New Song With Serj Tankian

• “It’s also adjourning a lot of those court trials — people were showing up to court, and they were getting handcuffed and taken away, not allowing the judges to actually adjourn their case. So it’s almost like, adjourn it. Let’s let these people who have been living in the country for so long, contributing to our society — culturally, morally, financially — stay.” — Serj Tankian, Vocalist

Tom Morello On His New Anti-ICE Track With System Of A Down's Serj Tankian: "We Want To Get Rid Of The Rising Tide Of Fascism"

• “‘ADJOURN IT’ is a song to rile up our base. It’s to rile up people who are willing to stand up for justice. This is a song which is the next single from my upcoming solo rock record. It will be my 22nd record that I’ve made. And it’s 22 records of riling up the base, doing what we can, while we can, with what we’ve got, and we’ve got quite a lot.” — Tom Morello, Guitarist

Tom Morello Explains Political Message Behind New Song With Serj Tankian

The release coincides with the announcement of the “Power To The People” festival, organized by Morello for October 3 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. Both Morello and Tankian are slated to perform, providing a platform to further promote the song’s anti-fascist and anti-ICE message to a live audience.

Tom Morello Explains Political Message Behind New Song With Serj Tankian

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Tom Morello On His New Anti-ICE Track With System Of A Down's Serj Tankian: "We Want To Get Rid Of The Rising Tide Of Fascism"

*All information is drawn exclusively from the cited source excerpts.*

Tom Morello On His New Anti-ICE Track With System Of A Down's Serj Tankian: "We Want To Get Rid Of The Rising Tide Of Fascism"