A northern California city has declared itself a ‘constitutional republic’ in a bitter push back against a ‘barrage’ of Covid-19 health restrictions.
Council members for Oroville voted 6-1 in favor of the measure, stating it would oppose state and federal orders it deems to be ‘government overreach’.
Leaders said that the designation was a way of affirming the city’s values after fiercely opposing Covid lockdowns and school closures mandated by Governor Gavin Newsom.
But a legal expert has said that passing the resolution was only a ‘gesture’ and it did not give the city’s council any more authority.
Council members for Oroville voted 6-1 in favor of declaring itself a ‘constitutional republic’ in a bitter push back against a ‘barrage’ of Covid-19 health restrictions
As the vote was passed one member even warned attendees that the designation had ‘no teeth’ and was just a political statement rather than a push for independence over mandates.
‘I proposed it after 18 months of increasingly intrusive executive mandates and what I felt to be excessive overreach by our government,’ said Scott Thomson, the city’s vice-mayor.
‘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.’
Leaders said that the designation was a way of affirming the city’s values after fiercely opposing Covid lockdowns and school closures mandated by Governor Gavin Newsom (pictured)
Thomson was referring to the 51 per cent of people in Butte County, where Oroville is located, that voted in favor of the ultimately unsuccessful recall vote against Governor Gavin Newsom.
He also admitted that the resolution would have no impact on the ability to prevent school closures, which are controlled by the school district.
‘We’re not ignorant that there are serious issues at hand, we just do not agree with the way it’s being handled.’
As the vote was passed one member even warned attendees that the designation had ‘no teeth’ and was just a political statement rather than a push for independence over mandates.
Following the designation, Lisa Pruitt, a rural law expert at the University of California, warned that the city must still follow federal and state laws.
‘A municipality cannot unilaterally declare itself not subject to the laws of the state of California,’ she told The Guardian. ‘Whatever they mean by constitutional republic you can’t say hocus pocus and make it happen.’
The city has however been resistant to the implementation of Covid rules since last year, with one councillor describing the mandates as ‘political theater’.
Residents also appear to agree and have been wary in their take up of the vaccine – the county’s rate is just 48 per cent having been jabbed.
