Gigi’s Declassified OC Politics Survival Guide

By Gigi Hume

Disclaimer: This article displays *extreme* liberal bias

As a progress-minded kid living in OC where political leanings are as red as the sunburnt cheeks of the white people who live here, I know it can seem like your liberal-leaning self is all alone in a sea of Trumpies. But as the estimated turnout of 24,000 people at the OC Women’s March two week ago proved, you and I are not alone in our anger, and as long as we organize, collectively take action, and remember the wise words from one Ned Bigby— “I’ll survive with no doubt. Never fear. Bring it on.”—the “blue tidal wave” has a chance to rise above. But how to do that? I’ve got you covered, my inter sectional-feminist-logic-appreciating-over-this-@#!% friend.

Call Your Representatives

This seems to be the go-to answer from everyone from Refinery29 to woke people of Rowan Blanchard-likeness, but there’s a reason. When you call your representative, the 23-year-old PoliSci major on the other end will likely log it because they know if they don’t, their boss can say, “Good riddance, re-election!” Plus, as former Congressional staffer, Emily Ellsworth, inquired to WIRED, “If it takes them five seconds to fill out a form that shoots out a form email, is that the same as someone who actually takes the time to call?” Calling shows you care and if you care, you can make your rep care. But for those of you that get some of that calling anxiety like me, the 5 Calls app is great resource—providing scripts for how to address your rep on a specific issue like the DREAM Act and Ratification of the ERA. As for who your rep is, most of us who reside in the 45th Congressional District encompassing the Irvine, Tustin, Orange area are represented by Republican Mimi Walters, who mind you hasn’t held a town hall since October 2016, so calling seems to be just about the only way you can reach her. But for those who live in the 46th Congressional District Santa Ana and Anaheim, you are represented by Democrat Lou Correa, and luckily he tends to vote against Republican bills aimed to hurt poor people of color like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Still, by calling, you will only reaffirm his choices and show him his decisions have constituent support. Either way, hit ‘em up–it’s the most direct way to affect change on a Congressional level.

Lou Correa (D-46) – (714) 559-6190

Mimi Walters (R-45) – (949) 263-8703

Join an Activism Organization

Before I started researching for this article, I wasn’t aware we had such a prolific organizations with the aim to unite Democrats, women, or LGBT community members. But they are everywhere. Seriously. No matter what cause you champion, there is probably a group of kindred spirits waiting to link arms with you for action. Chiefly, OC Young Democrats, consisting of members aged fourteen to thirty-five, have been especially vocal in the midst of this turmoil with their creation of the Trump Resistance Committee in which they, according to OC Weekly, are, “…in charge of organizing constituents to pressure their congress-loser to vote against Trump administration measures. [They] also…praise representatives whose actions they approve of.” This isn’t the only outlet for us millennials and Gen Z-ers. Indivisible, the organization whose guide Young Democrats follow, has a similar mode of resistance consisting of plastering signs on representatives’ doors and educating voters about local Democratic candidates. Of course, these are more broad, all-encompassing progressive organizations, but the 949 and 714 area codes are also overflowing with more tailored groups that specifically address certain people and issues like OC Now or Orange County For Climate Action that organize conferences and write articles to educate the public on the wrath of rising temperatures and the duty of dudes to help end sexual harassment in the workplace.

 

Attend an Advocacy Night

While joining an organization involves a more vocal-type of leadership, education really is key to the obliteration of ignorance that can cultivate a stronger, more aware base that will vote Dem. From Planned Parenthood to Run For Something, these organizations often hold panels with pioneers of a field, discuss volunteer opportunities, and host call-a-thons as a means to educate and inspire people to take further action.

Any one of these methods helps to define the vague parameters of #RESISTANCE and hopefully with these actions we can go from this Ned—

To this one—

Never fear. Bring it on. Go get ‘em.

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