The Autonomous Zone—often referred to as the A-Zone—was an anarchist organizing space and infoshop in Chicago that opened in 1993 and closed in 2003. The A-Zone one of many such spaces that open across the country in the early 1990s.
In 1994, the group wrote the following description of its purpose:
"The Autonomous Zone is a community center for radical information and action. We provide a non-hierarchical framework and space where people can develop knowledge and skills vital to building fundamental social change. Our collectively run infoshop lends and sells hard-to-find radical literature. We also host practical how-to classes where Chicagoans can learn from each other. Additionally, we organize educational social events, such as lectures, coffeehouses, potlatches, and discussions. The resources and services offered through the Autonomous Zone are collectively organized on egalitarian anarchist principles of cooperation, mutual aid, equal participation and consensus decision-making. We hope to create for ourselves and others, an empowering space free from hierarchy and authoritarian coercion."
As a center for anarchist organizing, the A-Zone was host to a number of different organizing efforts and events. In August of 1996, the A-Zone collaborated with the Network of Anarchist Collectives to host “Active Resistance” an anarchist convergence and protest against the Democratic National Convention (DNC) held in Chicago. Also that year, the first show by Chicago indie band Joan of Arc took place at the A-Zone. In 2002, the A-Zone helped to facilitate protests against the Trans-Atlantic Business Dialog (TABD) conference that happened in Chicago. Ongoing political organizing projects included Food Not Bombs, Anti-Racist Action, Arsenal Magazine, and the Industrial Workers of the World.
Locations
The Autonomous Zone resided in several different spaces (1, 2, 3, 4) including:
2129 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
1726 W Division St
Chicago, IL 60622
1573 N Milwaukee Ave #420
Chicago, IL 60622
2045 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
History
The history of the A-Zone has been documented in the zine “The A-Zone & a Decade of Anarchy in Chicago.” The zine provides a historical overview of the A-Zone and reflections from participants.
