Autonomous Zone Set Up for Derek Chauvin Trial
The Claim
Leftists have set up an autonomous zone, “an ACTIVE insurrection,” in Minneapolis for Derek Chauvin's trial for the killing of George Floyd.
News posted on
Emerging story
On March 17, 2021, Lauren Boebert, a U.S. Representative for Colorado, tweeted that “leftists have set up an autonomous zone - an ACTIVE insurrection - in Minneapolis for the George Floyd trial.”
In her tweet, Boebert also labeled the autonomous zones set up during protests in Georgia and Seattle insurrections. The tweet was shared over a thousand times and had many negative reactions. One user encouraged Boebert to “Try looking up the word insurrection you'll find you're using it incorrectly."
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation found this claim to be misleading.
Autonomous zones are not insurrections by definition. According to Cambridge Dictionary, autonomous is defined as “independent and having the power to make your own decisions.” An autonomous zone would be a zone that is independent and has the freedom to govern itself. Also according to Cambridge Dictionary, an insurrection is defined as "an organized attempt by a group of people to defeat their government and take control of their country, usually by violence."
It is important to note the distinction between these two terms. An insurrection requires an attempt to take control or defeat an already existing government, while setting up an autonomous zone can be done without attempting to destroy or defeat an existing government.
According to VICE News, the cross of four blocks in south Minneapolis where George Floyd was killed has been turned into a cop-free “autonomous zone” where people can gather and reflect during the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who kneeled on Floyd’s neck for nearly 9 minutes on May 25 last year.
Police powers mostly reside with the states, so the four-block section is currently a local protest that doesn't challenge federal authority. As such, it is incorrect to classify it as an insurrection.
