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xxxxxIt was Erik Lehnsherr who first proposed the idea of an independent and self-sufficient mutant homeland. In the late 1970s, Charles purchased a subtropical island in the Atlantic which had been rendered uninhabitable by nuclear weapons research in the '50s -- until a member of their community used her power to remove the remaining contamination. Several hundred mutants settled on the island, forming a commune they called Utopia. The first settlers were mutants from all over the world, drawn together by the research fo Dr. Moira MacTaggert. While the name was perhaps excessively optimistic (or "unabashedly aspirational", as Charles called it) and certainly had its share or problems, Utopia thrived on the skills and powers of its people as well as the Xavier family fortune. On the fourth anniversary of Utopia's founding, the people voted to declare independence from the United States and openly invite the mutants of the world to join them.
The US government, unsure what to make of mutants and not much fussed by their small numbers and remote existence on an island that had no value in any event (believing it still radioactive), basically ignored Utopia -- at first. So, for that matter, did most of the world, except for mutants. Since Utopia received virtually no mainstream press coverage, immigration remained slow, but as word got out into developing mutant communities more and more came, singly and in groups. A year after its nominal independence, the newborn micronation had over a thousand citizens, and showed every sign of continuing -- and accelerating -- growth. And it finally drew the attention of the United States.
The US Navy sent a taskforce to subdue the rogue territory. Though Utopia had some small advance warning and began evacuating at once, about a hundred still remained when the warships came in range. Erik and Charles repelled the initial effort to land troops on the beach without bloodshed. The taskforce began bombardment, and an enraged Erik stopped the missiles mid-flight -- and turned them around towards the fleet. Charles pled with him to just neutralize their weapons, and attempted to physically intervene and drag Erik to join the last of their fleeing brethren. Erik lost control of the munitions, a few of which collided mid-air and began a chain reaction of explosions, raining shrapnel down over the beach. While Erik was able to deflect most of the debris, Charles was badly wounded. Having courted destruction and not understanding the power they were up against, the task force made no further attacks, allowing Erik to escape with Charles on the last Utopian ship. They were not pursued.
The Utopians scattered, returning to their previous lives, but some remained in contact and, in places like New York City, even in community. Charles and Erik returned to the Xavier Estate with a small handful of their Utopian inner circle. They organized for mutant rights, founding Genetic Equality New York (which now has chapters all over the US) and the Mutant Liberation Front (which eventually became the Brotherhood).
The dream of mutant separatism, since then, had been a dream -- picked up only recently by the Mutant Autonomous Zone in Riverdale, NYC.
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xxxxx This likely depends on your character's age, background, and enmeshment in New Yorks mutant community.
Older characters who would have been alive and active in mutant community during the Utopian Era might have been invited to the island, or immigrated there and survived the evacuation. Your character might be the child of a survivor who returned to their old home after the attack, and grew up hearing stories from their parents or other elders about this brief experiment.
Most of the Utopians who remained in New York did not speak openly about Utopia, for various reasons ranging from fear of the further government retaliation, fear of Magneto who wanted to bury the history, or respect for Charles who was deeply traumatized by the end of the community. The ones who left New York may have felt more free to speak! In New York, Utopia has been the subject of rumor and conjecture only until very recently. Elders in New York have begun to open up more since the end of 2020 and the formation of the Mutant Autonomous Zone in the Bronx.
It is important to note that while this ICly occurred long before the start of the game, it is still "new" information beginning to circulate in community. Please do not play a character who has been teaching about Utopia in history class, or assume its common knowledge outside the mutant community! There are only about 20 Utopians active in New York in present day that are not affiliated with either the Brotherhood or the X-Men -- it is not a big community.
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