Donald Trump is the country’s president-elect and protests all around the country have been popping up in opposition of his win over Hillary Clinton.
Protests that have featured posters and signs ranging from “#Calexit” to “F–k Donald Trump” can be seen in videos and news coverage.
But there’s more to the #Calexit than its Twitter trend.
This idea also seems to stem from the fact that Californians mostly voted for Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party in the presidential election.
Here’s how the votes played out in California:
- Hillary Clinton (Dem) 6,229,624 – 61.6%
- Donald Trump (GOP) 3,329,627 – 32.9%
- Gary Johnson (Lib) 326,947 – 3.2%
- Jill Stein (Grn) 177,271 – 1.8%
- Other 43,585 – 0.4%
- Total 10,107,054 – 100%
“Yes California” has created a reality for those who not only disapprove of Trump being the president elect, but also for those who wish for California to actually secede from the United States.
“In the Spring of 2019, Californians will go to the polls in a historic vote to decide by referendum if California should exit the Union, a #Calexit vote,” according to the movement’s website.
Thoughts from El Camino:
Nikka Navarro, 29, undecided major, says that the referendum is just a scapegoat for people to run away from a problem, which many goers of Yes California and Calexit believe the rest of the U.S. and Trump are.
“People who are interested in creating change should just donate or dedicate their time in organizations,” she said.
While the Calexit decision will affect every Californian, it shouldn’t be passed or even put up for voting, Andrew Enge, 20, English major, said.
“We’re not too diverse, like other countries,” he said. “Even if other states voted for Trump, we should still stand together as a united nation.”
Laurie Houske, political science professor, said that #Calexit and the “Yes California” referendum is basically a joke.
“It sounds interesting, but it’s not that easy,” she said.