Santa Barbara County Democrats gathered on Labor Day to support Proposition 50, an initiative led by Gov. Gavin Newsom to redistrict five congressional boundaries in favor of Democrats.

Democrats at Monday’s barbecue, attended by about 250 people at Tucker’s Grove Park in Santa Barbara, also blasted President Trump, called for protection of families against immigration raids, and declared their efforts to build more political power throughout the county.

“I don’t have to tell you that we are living through one of the most corrupt, one of the most cruel and one of the most catastrophic governments of the 21st century,” said Christian Alonso, chair of the Santa Barbara County Democratic Central Committee. “Take your pick of the daily atrocities this president and his allies commit against immigrants, against workers, against queer folks, against people seeking abortion care, against trans people and against the rule of law.”

Alonso, formerly the chair of the Santa Barbara Young Democrats, took over as head of the county party last year. Monday marked his first time leading the Labor Day event, which traditionally celebrates worker rights and labor efforts.

The Democrats called for education and support for Proposition 50, which is on a special November ballot. The proposition seeks to suspend the normal redistricting process and approve new maps approved by the Legislature.

The effort is in response to President Trump and his call on Republican states to redraw lines to give the GOP an advantage. Texas already has approved five new congressional districts.

Alonso said Democrats have fewer than 64 days to get the word out on Proposition 50.

“How we show up and how we fight has never been more important,” Alonso said. “We need every Democratic seat we can get at every level of government.”

Assemblyman Gregg Hart, who represents the 37th District, said California must fight back against Trump and his redistricting efforts. Hart, D-Santa Barbara, said he supports the state’s Citizens Redistricting Commission and its process every 10 years, but California cannot “unilaterally disarm.”

“California can’t fill the gap with the lost policy and the directionless federal government, so we need to use every tool we have available to us,” Hart said.

He said the purpose of Proposition 50 is simple: “Stop Trump.”

Laura Capps, chair of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the Second District supervisor, gave a rousing speech in support of Proposition 50.

“We need Prop. 50,” Capps said. “Democrats — with all of our values, with all that we stand for — we stand for hope, we stand for justice, we stand for dignity, we stand for justice, we stand for the most vulnerable, we stand for all the right things in history, but we have to win. In order to make these things happen, we have to win, and in order to win, we need Prop. 50.”

Rep. Salud Carbajal, who is facing a challenge next year from Bob Smith, a retired U.S. Navy commander, called the Trump administration “corrupt.”

“Our Democracy is under assault,” Carbajal said. “Our civil rights are under assault. Corruption is running rampant with this administration and their cronies.”

In discussing immigration raids, Carbajal said the federal government is not going after just criminals.

“They are going after hardworking people who are helping our economy, that are trying to make better lives for themselves, and they are treating them like s***,” Carbajal said.

The event also featured Ricardo Valencia, who serves on the Santa Maria-Bonita School District board and is a teacher. He is running for Fifth District supervisor next year. Steve Lavagnino currently serves in that role, but he is leaving the seat.

“Our current District 5 supervisor wants to pass that job on to his chief of staff (Cory Bantilan), who is just now moving to Santa Maria in order to be eligible for the election,” Valencia said. “Back in my neighborhood, we call those people posers — people who came to be from the block when they are not.”

His comment about Bantilan moving into the district just to run for the seat drew boos from the crowd. Valencia grew up in Guadalupe.

“I come from low-income Mexican immigrants that were undocumented,” Valencia said. “At this very moment, ICE is trying to tear our communities apart with their racism, classism, colorism and xenophobia.”

Several elected officials and activists also attended the event, including Goleta City Council members Luz Reyes-Martin, Stuart Kasdin and James Kyriaco; Santa Barbara City Council members Kristen Sneddon, Wendy Santamaria and Oscar Gutierrez; Goleta Union School District board member Emily Zacarias; and Santa Barbara City College Trustee Charlotte Gullap-Moore. Buellton Mayor David Silva was also at the event.

“I don’t know where our future is headed, but I do know we are strong together and we got to fight,” Alonso said. “Make no mistake about it: Our democracies and our freedoms are in peril.”