As people enjoyed their Labor Day lunch along State Street in Santa Barbara, about 300 people marched past with signs opposing President Donald Trump, supporting immigrants and advocating for voters to support Proposition 50.
During Monday morning’s rally, people marched from De la Guerra Plaza to Victoria Street and back after hearing from local leaders about the ballot measure, which proposes congressional redistricting.
The measure, which will be put to voters in a November special election, is Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to counter gerrymandering in states such as Texas by redrawing some congressional districts to favor Democrats in upcoming elections.
Santa Barbara City Councilman Oscar Gutierrez spoke at Monday’s rally to share how the city is responding to federal immigration-related arrests and to express his support for Proposition 50.
“District elections are extremely important, because if it wasn’t for district elections, people like me wouldn’t have been able to get elected,” Gutierrez said. “So Prop. 50 in November is going to be extremely crucial and important to make sure that we have proper representation.”
Former state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson said Proposition 50 is the first step in taking control back from the federal administration.
“When you think about the things that are happening to California today at the hands of this demented, deranged, idiotic, moronic person in the White House, we need to take action,” Jackson said during Monday’s downtown rally. “And Proposition 50 is how we’re going to do that.”
She added that by having more control in the House of Representatives, Democrat leaders can reverse mass deportation policies.
“If we get that house back, we can put a stop to these kinds of practices,” Jackson said. “Hopefully we can claw back, as they say, that money and put it to a better use, like giving health care to all, like creating paid family leave, like increasing the minimum wage for Americans.”
Ethan Bertrand, district director for Assemblyman Gregg Hart, said, “This measure will decide whether we reject Trump’s policies, and whether we stand up for democracy or whether the Trump administration gets to continue to operate unchecked.”
