What is the ‘sovereign citizen’ movement?
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The sovereign citizen movement has once again been thrust into the mainstream spotlight following the deadly shooting of two police officers in Victoria’s alpine region.
It’s an uncentralised belief system but is generally characterised by an anti-authority idea that they are not under the jurisdiction of the government and the law does not apply to them.
It’s why, for many years, it was typically associated with videos of someone getting pulled over for a traffic stop and refusing to provide their details to police, claiming law enforcement has no authority over them – only to be arrested shortly after.
While some may find videos of their arrests entertaining, the beliefs can be far more dangerous than they might seem.
Extremists within the movement have carried out violent crimes both in Australia and overseas – most recently, it is believed, in Victoria but also previously in Queensland.
The movement has received a significant influx of followers following the COVID-19 pandemic as people retaliated against lockdowns, mask mandates and vaccination requirements.
Content retrieved from: https://www.9news.com.au/national/what-is-a-sovereign-citizen-movement-beliefs-explainer/968ac369-a7bd-4a6d-9465-7bc2a1d13bdf.
