Facebook users questioned the validity of multiple articles covering a movement in California that recently declared independence from the state.
“‘New California’ conservative movement declares independence as first step towards 51st state” reads a headline from ZeroHedge.
Other headlines were a bit more sensational. “JUST IN: California secession declared, conservatives use constitution for new state, leftists furious,” Conservative Daily Post announced.
Users flagged similar stories on Reddit, Infowars, and Breitbart.
It’s true. A group named “New California” declared its independence from California on Monday.
“We stand firm in our pledge to maintain and support the freedoms of the people of our Nation and New California at all times, at home and abroad. With God as our witness, honoring the foundational principles, we take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, to stand together as free citizens of New California, to be a sovereign state of that nation which we hold dear, the United States of America.”
Do we have a 51st state? Not hardly.
As numerous articles on Puerto Rico have explained, only Congress can grant statehood, and that process is laborious and time-consuming. But New California “plans to convince California’s Legislature to split the state before submitting the resolution to Congress,” USA Today reports.
While explaining why the group announced its independence, Paul Preston, one of the founders, told CBS Sacramento that California has “been ungovernable for a long time. High taxes, education, you name it, and we’re rated around 48th or 50th from a business climate and standpoint.”
Their proposed map for New California leaves only the costal, more urban counties to the original California, and incorporates all the rural counties.
New California cites Article 4, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution as its authority to secede from the state.
The group’s vision “is for New California Statehood” and mission “is to bring about the conditions to initiate New California Statehood bringing about civic betterment and social improvements.”
“And despite obstacles, doubters, and obvious long odds the group stands united in their statehood dream,” CBS Sacramento Reported.
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