A group that is leading the so-called Calexit movement, a campaign that would have California breaking away from the United States and becoming a separate nation, is working on opening an embassy in Russia.
Louis Marinelli, who heads what’s called the “Yes California Independence Campaign,” tells the financial and news site Business Insider that the planned embassy would include a resource center to promote trade relations and encourage tourism to California, as well as to provide information to Russians about the state’s history and culture.
Marinelli says the group wants to establish connections now so if the breakaway movement does succeed, a new and independent California could ask, in his words,“ Will you now recognize that and therefore recognize our independence from the United States as a country?”
Calexit movement given big boost by Trump victory
The Calexit movement, which earlier this year had gained little attention, suddenly was given a big boost when Donald Trump won the presidential election. Though he beat Hillary Clinton in the electoral college, Trump was trounced in California, with Clinton winning 61.5 percent of the votes cast in the state.
Heading into election night about 11,000 people had indicated they “liked” the Facebook page for the Yes California Independence Campaign.
But with despair and unrest spreading throughout California over the election results, a little more than a week later that number had exploded to 295,000 likes. The Calexit hashtag, a play on the Brexit movement, had also been trending for several days.
“This campaign is not just about Donald Trump though,” the Yes California Independence Campaign says in a statement on its website.
“It is about the American people who elected him. If they could do such a thing, then the United States is not our country and Trump is not our president. We will vote to secede from the Union.”
Organizers note additional reasons for California breakaway
Organizers say besides Trump winning the presidency, there are a number of additional reasons why they want to break away from the rest of the country.
They point to what they refer to as “flawed” election, fiscal and political systems. Backers of the secession movement admit there are a number of hurdles to overcome before California could leave the U.S. And, a number of legal and political experts say there is little chance of the movement succeeding.
First, the campaign must gather 1 million signatures from registered voters to put the measure on the 2018 ballot. If Californians were to vote in favor of secession, Congress and a majority of states would then have to approve an amendment to the Constitution that would allow California to leave the U.S.
