‘New California’ ‘Secedes’ from Liberal California, Declares 51st State

New California (New California via USA Today)
New California via USA Today

A group of activists declared “independence” for the state of “New California” on Monday, in an attempt to leave California’s liberal coastal enclaves and create a 51st U.S. state out of the remainder of the Golden State.

“The current state of California has become governed by a tyranny,” according to a document published by the group. The document continues (original emphasis):

Therefore the United States Declaration of Independence of 1776, the Constitution as adapted in 1783 by the Congress of the United States of America, the Alta California Declaration of Independence of 1836, the Sonoma Proclamation of 1846, and the California State Constitution of 1848 Mandate the Right, the Responsibility, the Duty of the People who are suffering the long train of abuses and usurpations at the hands of a tyrannical government to abolish and make New a Government by the People and for the People under GOD.

USA Today further quotes the group as declaring: “After years of over taxation, regulation, and mono-party politics the State of California and many of it’s 58 Counties have become ungovernable.”

A (somewhat inaccurate) map of the proposed boundaries of the new state, obtained from the activists by USA Today, indicates that New California would include all of the state except the coastal region extending from the San Francisco Bay Area south to the Los Angeles area. The Sacramento area and the Napa Valley wine region would also be excluded and would remain in the original California.

10News, the ABC News affiliate San Diego, published a more extensive “declaration of independence” from the group:

The history of the present Governor and Government of California is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of a Tyranny over the Counties of New California and the State of California.

Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to seek a constitutional remedy to the abuse of powers.

We the people of the Counties of New California solemnly publish and declare these counties are, and of Right ought to be, a free and Independent State, that we strive to be free from the State of California, and that as a Free and Independent State, have full power to establish and maintain law and order, to promote general prosperity, and to do all other acts and things, which an Independent New California State may rightfully do.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the Counties of New California, appeal to the California Legislature and the Federal Congress to pass resolutions to create the State of New California. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor.

Past efforts to split the state have been unsuccessful, including the State of Jefferson — a group of conservative northern counties — and the “Six Californias” referendum proposal, which has failed thus far to qualify for the statewide ballot.

Left-wing Californians warmed to the idea of secession last year after President Donald Trump was installed in office, but the “CalExit” movement remains stalled.

Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. He was named to Forward’s 50 “most influential” Jews in 2017. He is the co-author of How Trump Won: The Inside Story of a Revolution, is available from Regnery. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.

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