The City Commission of Oroville, CA voted 6-1 to declare itself and independent “constitutional republic,” vowing not to follow federal and state covid policies. pic.twitter.com/o1tXLpkjO4
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) November 6, 2021
This is a plan. No doubt.
A northern California town has declared itself a “constitutional republic” in response to Covid-19 health restrictions imposed by the governor, in the latest sign of strife between the state’s government and its rural and conservative regions.
The city council in Oroville, located at the base of the Sierra Nevada foothills about 90 miles from the capital of Sacramento, adopted a resolution this week stating it would oppose state and federal orders it deems to be government overreach.
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Before passing the resolution, council members argued they were taking a stand and advocating for residents to make their own health choices.
“I assure you folks that great thought was put into every bit of this,” the city’s mayor, Chuck Reynolds, said. “Nobody willy-nilly threw something to grandstand.”
But the city’s declaration does not shield it from following federal and state laws, said Lisa Pruitt, a rural law expert at the University of California, Davis, who said it was not clear what the designation meant.
“A municipality cannot unilaterally declare itself not subject to the laws of the state of California,” Pruitt said. “Whatever they mean by constitutional republic you can’t say hocus pocus and make it happen.”
Leaders in the city of 20,000 say the resolution is an effort to push back against state government and affirm the city’s values and commitment to the constitution. Oroville drafted its resolution from scratch after not finding any examples of other cities with similar resolutions, said Scott Thomson, the city’s vice-mayor.
“I proposed it after 18 months of increasingly intrusive executive mandates and what I felt to be excessive overreach by our government,” said Thomson. “After the failed recall in California, our state governor seems to [be] on a rampage and the mandates are getting more intrusive. Now he’s going after our kids and schools.”
The majority of speakers at the Oroville city council meeting expressed their support for their resolution – applauding its introduction and calling council members “heroes” – with several specifically citing the state’s vaccine requirement for schoolchildren.
“We’re hoping that becoming a constitutional republic city is the best step in order to regain and maintain our inalienable rights protected by the constitution of the United States. What will be left if we don’t have that? if we don’t have bodily autonomy?” one speaker said in tears. “What else are they gonna want me to let them do to my kids? Where does it stop?”
Some people on Twitter are considering this an act of secession. Perhaps the city should agree and amplify.
Isn’t that a form of sedition.
— Louise Brooks (@LouiseB87783160) November 6, 2021
The city has seceded from the Union?
No more State or federal funds for them— William Buecker (@wcbuecker) November 6, 2021
Ummm…
I believe the term is…
Secede
Seceded
Seceding…
Pick one!
“Independent constitutional republic”. 🖕🏾
— TheRealBatman (@the4realBatman) November 6, 2021
So, they seceded? This should be interesting.
— Carolyn from Maryland (@carolyn_from) November 6, 2021
Others are reporting that other small towns are doing something similar.
Happening all over—-currently Chautauqua county NY.
— donnamarie (@pensive_musings) November 6, 2021
I can see that happening in certain towns in New Hampshire as well. I don’t think it will work. #GQP
— BlueNewHampshire (@VoteBlueNH) November 6, 2021
But the overwhelming majority of the Twitter responses are pretty sadistic. They range from straight out calling for the residents to be arrested or invading the city, to cutting all forms of funding, electricity, roads and services.
Where does their water and electricity come from? Pretty sure from outside their “Republic”. Turn off the tap. Shut off the electricity & gas. I’m sure they’ll be on their knees in … 3, 2, 1
— Mark Lenfestey (@LenfesteyMark) November 6, 2021
Invade Oroville and free their people. We live in strange times.
— Carson West (@CarmenW78321492) November 6, 2021
End all state and federal support for Oroville.
— Salty Mule (@MuleSalty) November 6, 2021
I would love to see the negotiations are going to have to go through to get water. I doubt the city has its own independent water supply. $5 a gallon, and you can have water. LOL
— Matt (@Beeksy81) November 6, 2021
Cool. I sure hope they’ve got a lot of tax revenue and hospital services out there. Evolution will wipe em out shortly, I assume.
— Hvit Mor (@HvitM) November 6, 2021
They shouldn’t receive any state or federal funds then. Let’s see how long they last.
Good luck.
— JustTheFacts! – VoteBlue22 (@JustTheFacts68) November 6, 2021
Perfect. No federal or state aid until your people starve. And then what happens?
— Mark Messier (@MarkMessier17) November 6, 2021
If there is any access to interstate highways in their town, the on and off ramps are in need of concrete barricades.
— Unintentionally👻Scary🧙♀️Music👹 (@KMH_Music) November 6, 2021
Send in the army.
— Mike D(yno-mite!) (@The_Other_MikeD) November 6, 2021
Take their funds, revoke their citizenship in the USA, build a wall around them so they can’t break out. This will be a fun experiment. Like watching rats in a maze.
— This Fine Day (@ThisDayisFine) November 6, 2021
I know it would be a tremendous waste of money, but if the army corps of engineers showed up and built a wall around Oroville, I wouldn’t be mad.
— Brian S (@303Briandinho) November 6, 2021
Cool. Cut them off from power grid, watet, sewer all public services
— beth82 (@bethkoob) November 6, 2021
Why do these people want human beings in a small town to suffer just because they wanted to be free?
Someone even mocked the townsfolk for not being brainwashed in college!
Education in Orville: 86% high school graduates; 13% college graduates
— Alice LaRocca ✍🏻 (@laroccaa) November 6, 2021
It is clear that the unvaccinated hate freedom and people who want to be free.