Whittier community rallies against Newsom recall, plans Larry Elder protest in Downey

On Labor Day 2021, community members from Whittier and the surrounding South/East Cities rallied against the recall of Governor Gavin Newsom. The hosts of the protest, Diego Rubalcava-Alvarez, Richard Castro Jr., and Maggie Moe, said that the community should vote against the recall in order “to defend everything we’ve been working on.”

Whittier community rises in opposition to Newsom recall (9/6/21)

This is not the first time that the Whittier community has risen in favor of the Governor. In 2020, Whittier Council Member Jessica Martinez filed a lawsuit against Newsom, seeking to block $75 million from being used in aid to undocumented immigrants. The community responded with an ongoing movement to recall Martinez.

Maggie Moe, a Whittier resident and prominent critic of Martinez, told us in Spanish, “Community, it’s very important to vote No on the recall. We have to support a Governor who loves and supports our community. I want all of our community to go out and vote No. We have to support the Governor who supports us.”

The Whittier protest took place at the close of Labor Day, with some attendees expressing worry that California Democratic voters may feel their vote does not matter in a “Blue State,” and that such feelings could result in a victory for Larry Elder, the leading GOP candidate to replace Newsom.

At the end of the protest, attendee Juan Martinez, a community advocate in the City of Downey and current candidate for City Council, invited the community to protest Elder in Downey. Elder’s publicly disclosed schedule places him at New Seasons Downey Church on 9/9/21 at 6PM.

In conjunction with Downey Progressive Democrats, Martinez has created a Facebook event for the protest, stating “Larry Elder is horrible for California,” and outlining some parameters for the event, including “Protest gathering will take place on sidewalk near entrance (public property) only!”

Given the recent increase in political activity both in Downey and Whittier, Political Life anticipates a counter-protest by Elder supporters. We will follow the events closely.

Political Life is a collective of citizen-journalists in Los Angeles County.