Universities Teaching Sovereign Citizen Ideology To Students?

The sovereign citizen movement is a loose group of anti-government activists, tax protesters, conspiracy theorists, and others, who believe they are not subject to any government authority. The movement first appeared in the US in the 1970s and has since spread to other English-speaking countries. Sovereign citizens believe that they are not bound by government laws and regulations, and that they are answerable only to their interpretation of common law or God's law. This belief system is based on a conspiracy theory that the original US government established by the Founding Fathers was secretly replaced by an illegitimate government, which they claim operates under admiralty law or maritime law.

Sovereign citizens often refuse to recognise legal documentation such as Social Security numbers, driver's licenses, and vehicle registration, leading to frequent confrontations with law enforcement. They also reject most forms of taxation and believe in a variety of pseudolegal theories and tactics, such as the existence of a secret government-held fund that they can access once they become sovereign.

While the movement lacks a centralised leadership, local leaders and gurus organise seminars and sell materials that teach followers how to become sovereign and resist government authority. These teachings have led to an increase in violent confrontations with police, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as sovereign citizens reject public health measures such as mask mandates.

The sovereign citizen movement has been labelled as domestic terrorism by the FBI due to its extremist and illegal activities, and its potential for violence.

The history of the sovereign citizen movement

The sovereign citizen movement is a loose group of anti-government activists, vexatious litigants, tax protesters, financial scammers, and conspiracy theorists. The movement first appeared in the United States in the early 1970s and has since expanded to other English-speaking common law countries, including Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.

Origins and Early History

The sovereign citizen movement emerged from two older anti-government movements: the tax protest movement and the Posse Comitatus movement. The tax protest movement began in the late 1960s and its followers claim that most Americans do not have to pay federal income taxes. The Posse Comitatus movement emerged in the early 1970s and consisted of locally-based groups that claimed the county sheriff was the ultimate authority in a county. The Posse Comitatus movement was also strongly associated with white supremacist and antisemitic ideologies.

Over time, anti-government extremists from both movements developed theories about the "true" nature of the government, claiming that a conspiracy had infiltrated and subverted the original government, replacing it with an illegitimate, tyrannical government. Adherents of the sovereign citizen movement believe that they can ignore laws, regulations, court orders, and taxes because they have divorced themselves from this illegitimate government.

Growth and Evolution

The basic concepts behind the sovereign citizen movement were established by the mid-1980s, but the movement continued to evolve and expand its influence. The movement experienced a surge in popularity in the mid-to-late 1990s, coinciding with the upswing of far-right anger that resulted in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. This period also saw the emergence of violent confrontations with law enforcement, with two major crackdowns on sovereign citizen organizations taking place in 1996 and 2018.

In the late 2000s, the sovereign citizen movement saw another period of growth, fueled by the Great Recession and the mortgage crisis. During this time, sovereign citizens also began to exploit social media to spread their ideas to new audiences. The movement has continued to evolve and adapt, attracting followers from various backgrounds and incorporating elements from other fringe movements, such as QAnon and anti-vaccination groups.

International Spread

While the sovereign citizen movement originated in the United States, it has spread internationally and can now be found in over 26 countries. The movement first expanded to Canada in the late 1990s through anti-tax groups, and then to other English-speaking Commonwealth countries like Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

The internet played a significant role in facilitating the spread of ideas between followers across different countries. Additionally, American "gurus" or leaders of the movement held seminars and spread their influence abroad, further contributing to its international growth.

By the 2010s, the movement had gained a presence in countries like Ireland, South Africa, and Singapore. It has also spread to non-English-speaking countries, including Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Russia, where it has been adapted to fit the local context and legal systems.

The legal status of sovereign citizens

The sovereign citizen movement is a loose group of anti-government activists, tax protesters, conspiracy theorists, and litigants who believe they are not subject to any government statutes unless they consent to them. They are present mainly in English-speaking common-law countries like the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. The movement has no central leadership or established doctrine, but its members share a belief in pseudolegal theories that are not based on historical precedent and have no basis in law.

The legal system consistently rejects sovereign citizens' claims and arguments. Their tactics, such as paper terrorism and bogus property liens, are illegal and can lead to criminal charges. While most sovereign citizens are not violent, their methods are, and some have been implicated in hostile possession, forgery, threatening public officials, bank fraud, and traffic violations.

Sovereign citizens believe they are not under the jurisdiction of the federal government and consider themselves exempt from the law. They reject legal documentation such as Social Security numbers, driver's licenses, and vehicle registration, which leads to frequent encounters with law enforcement. They also regard most forms of taxation as illegitimate. Their ideology is based on a conspiracy theory that the original US government set up by the Founding Fathers was secretly replaced by an illegitimate government, and they claim there is a legal way to opt out of the current legal system.

To separate themselves from what they consider to be their "corporate shell identities," sovereign citizens may file documentation with their secretary of state's office, use red thumbprints or ink, and publish their new sovereign identity in a newspaper. They also attempt to access a supposed secret government-held fund by filing complex documents. These methods are fraudulent and have led to the prosecution of many sovereign citizens.

The movement's arguments are based on a misinterpretation of common law and a selective reading of legal dictionaries, state court opinions, and specific capitalization. They ignore the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution, which establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land. Sovereign citizens also challenge the validity of the contemporary legal system, claiming to answer only to God's law or common law.

In conclusion, sovereign citizens' beliefs and actions have no legal basis, and their attempts to separate themselves from the government and access secret funds are fraudulent and often illegal. Their rejection of government authority and belief in conspiracy theories can lead to dangerous situations and criminal activity.

Sovereign citizens and Indigenous sovereignty

The concept of sovereignty is complex and multifaceted, with different meanings and interpretations across various contexts. In the context of Indigenous sovereignty, it refers to the recognition of Indigenous peoples' right to self-determination, autonomy, and preservation of their unique identity, culture, and way of life. This notion challenges the idea of a uniform nation-state and asserts the political and moral authority of Indigenous communities within their respective territories.

Indigenous sovereignty is closely linked to the struggle for recognition and the assertion of Indigenous rights, which have often been overlooked or suppressed by colonial powers and the modern nation-state system. It is important to distinguish between "domestic dependent nations" and complete sovereignty in the context of Indigenous communities. While Indigenous peoples have been recognized as sovereign entities, their sovereignty is often limited and dependent on the federal or central government, particularly in matters of law enforcement, taxation, and land ownership.

The movement for Indigenous sovereignty aims to reclaim and assert Indigenous authority over their communities, lands, and resources. This includes the right to self-governance, protection and preservation of cultural heritage, and equitable participation in decision-making processes that affect their lives. However, the realization of Indigenous sovereignty is often hindered by the dominant political and legal frameworks imposed by settler colonial states.

Indigenous sovereignty, as conceptualized by scholars and activists, encompasses a range of meanings and approaches. Some view it as a means to secure a "safe space" for Indigenous peoples, ensuring their right to free and informed consent, self-governance, and the preservation of their languages and cultures. Others argue that it is about recognizing the inherent sovereignty of Indigenous communities within the nation, acknowledging their distinct identity and rights.

The struggle for Indigenous sovereignty is often intertwined with the pursuit of self-determination, which is a fundamental right affirmed by international law. Self-determination entails the ability of Indigenous peoples to make decisions about their own future, free from external imposition or coercion. However, the right to self-determination has been contested and limited by nation-states, particularly in the context of Indigenous claims to land and resources.

The relationship between Indigenous sovereignty and the nation-state is complex and fraught with power dynamics. While some scholars advocate for a complete rejection of the nation-state model, others propose a renegotiation of the constitutional order to accommodate the rights and sovereignty of Indigenous peoples. This includes recognizing Indigenous peoples as sovereign entities with the power to negotiate and shape the political and legal frameworks that govern them.

The realization of Indigenous sovereignty requires a shift from a monolithic understanding of sovereignty towards a more inclusive and pluralistic conception. This entails recognizing the inherent rights and authority of Indigenous communities and ensuring their meaningful participation in decision-making processes that affect their lives and futures. It is a continuous journey towards reconciliation, justice, and the recognition of Indigenous peoples' distinct identities and ways of life.

Sovereign citizens and conspiracy theories

Sovereign citizens are a varied bunch. It is less an organization or ideology and more of a pick-your-adventure collection of philosophies all with the same idea: that the federal government isn't real and that complex, legal-sounding arguments can get you out of everything from parking tickets to paying your taxes. The sovereign citizen movement is a loose group of anti-government activists, vexatious litigants, tax protesters, financial scammers, and conspiracy theorists.

The sovereign citizen movement is not taught in universities. However, the movement is often associated with conspiracy theories. The sovereign citizen movement is a leaderless movement with various offshoots. Sovereign citizens subscribe to a number of conspiracy theories, including the prevalent theory that the United States Government became bankrupt and began using citizens as collateral in trade agreements with foreign governments. They believe that secret bank accounts exist for each citizen at the United States Department of the Treasury. Sovereign citizens also believe that the original government set up by the US founders, which most adherents refer to as "common law", was slowly and secretly replaced by an illegitimate government sometime in the 1800s. They believe there is a legal way to opt out of the current legal system by filing documents and ending what they view as "contracts" with the government, such as driving licenses and other identity documents.

The sovereign citizen movement can be traced back to the United States in the early 1970s and has since expanded to other English-speaking countries. The movement is often associated with far-right groups, white supremacism, and antisemitism. However, it has since attracted people of various ethnicities, including a significant number of African Americans. The movement has no single universally accepted symbol or emblem, but sovereign citizen documents and signs often have distinctive identifying marks, such as postage stamps and thumbprints on documents.

Sovereign citizens often use flawed or invented legal arguments or irregular documents as "proof" of their claims. They have been known to set up their own "common law courts" to handle matters regarding movement members. These "courts" are devoid of legal authority and are frequently used to formalize the "declarations of sovereignty" of movement members. While the majority of sovereign citizens are not violent, the methods the movement advocates are illegal. Sovereign citizens adhere to fraudulent schemes, and many have been found guilty of offenses such as tax evasion, hostile possession, forgery, threatening public officials, bank fraud, and traffic violations. Due to their potential for violence and links with criminal conduct, the FBI classifies "sovereign citizen extremists" as domestic terrorists.

The global spread of the sovereign citizen movement

The sovereign citizen movement, also known as SovCit or SovCits, is a loose group of anti-government activists, tax protesters, financial scammers, and conspiracy theorists. The movement is mainly present in English-speaking common-law countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and New Zealand. The movement's ideas have spread globally over the past thirty years, with sovereign citizens activists making headlines and appearing on YouTube.

The sovereign citizen movement first appeared in the United States in the early 1970s and has since expanded to other countries. It can be traced back to American far-right groups such as the Posse Comitatus, which was a far-right, anti-government, and antisemitic movement. The sovereign citizen movement was originally associated with white supremacism and antisemitism, but now it attracts people of various ethnicities, including a significant number of African Americans.

In the late 1990s, the ideology reached Canada through anti-tax groups and later spread to Australia, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. The movement has also gained a presence in Singapore, where a viral video showed a woman refusing to wear a face mask during the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming to be a "sovereign".

The sovereign citizen movement has no single leader or organizational structure, but its followers share a set of beliefs and tactics. Sovereign citizens believe that they are immune from government rules and laws, and they often clash with law enforcement, particularly during traffic stops. They argue that the original government established by the American founders, which they refer to as "common law", was secretly replaced by an illegitimate government in the 1800s. They believe that there is a legal way to opt out of the current legal system by filing documents and ending "contracts" with the government, such as driver's licenses and other identity documents. They also reject most forms of taxation and often create their own pseudolegal documents, such as fake passports, license plates, or birth certificates.

The movement has grown in recent years, attracting interest from anti-vaxxers, QAnon adherents, and supporters of former President Donald Trump. It has also spread extensively in jails and prisons, and sovereign citizens have been involved in violent confrontations with law enforcement. The FBI classifies "sovereign citizen extremists" as domestic terrorists due to their potential for violence and links with criminal conduct.

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