The United Territories of The Sovereign Nation of The People’s Republic of Slowjamastan, an 11-acre micronation in the California desert, has a typical origin story.
“It all became because of a problem in the United States, an epidemic, a disease, if you will,” said Randy “R Dub!” Williams, the nation’s founder and ruling sultan. “Imagine clown shoes, big clown shoes, but imagine a clown shoe with big holes all over the clown shoe. In America, I think they call them Crocs.”
After Williams’ pleas for help from law enforcement and Congress went ignored, he decided to take drastic action.
“We could resort to violence, but we said, we are peace-loving. We are going to just simply make a country of our own,” he said.
Since the micronation declared independence on December 1, 2021, it’s attracted more than 10,000 citizens, although none are full-time residents. The territory is still in the early stages of setting up electricity and a sewer system, with eventual plans to build a lazy river, interactive armadillo farm, and an all-you-can-eat Mongolian barbecue.
While the crusade against Crocs remains Slowjamastan’s “main value,” they’ve since developed a few other laws, including a ban on biting into string cheese instead of pulling it apart. KNX News’ Charles Feldman unintentionally violated this law on Friday afternoon, causing a minor diplomatic incident.
The nation also has its own currency, a four-member military, and even issues passports. Its main industries are sand and dad jokes, Williams said.
Although the Sultan admits that his own mother is the only entity to recognize Slowjamastan as a sovereign nation, he’s managed to get his micronation’s “passport” stamped in 16 different countries.
Potential émigrés can apply for citizenship for free at slowjamastan.org.
“You get to escape America, even virtually, for a few minutes and leave all the political divisiveness aside, arguments at the door,” Williams said. “We have no labels in Slowjamastan. When you are in Slowjamastan, you are simply a Slowjamastani.”
Visitors are urged to apply for a visa beforehand to avoid run-ins with border patrol. The next state-sponsored event will be held this Sunday afternoon.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Related
Related
