One State Already Wants To Secede From The US — And It’s NOT Texas (VIDEO)

In the aftermath of presidential election 2016, and Republican candidate Donald Trump’s shocking win, millions of Americans are asking themselves “what now?” So it’s no surprise that people in some states are talking about seceding from the U.S.

However, it may come as a surprise to learn that the state that is talking most seriously is — California.

Just a day after the election result was announced, the demand for secession is growing at breakneck speed there.

The #Calexit hashtag is trending on Twitter, there are demonstrations in the state capital, Sacramento, to promote the move, and at least one major tech name in Silicon Valley has pledged active support. Shervin Pishevar, co-founder of Hyperloop, tweeted:

https://twitter.com/shervin/status/796190968735289344

Enthusiasm has come from all quarters, with even Hollywood gossip king Hilton Perez pitching in.

Although it is fast gaining traction, the idea is not entirely new. An organization called YesCalifornia has been campaigning for secession for some while, and is working to force a state referendum in 2018/19.

It is theoretically possible for this to happen, for there is nothing in the U.S. Constitution that prohibits it. In fact there is even a potential loophole that allows it, set by legal precedent in 1869, when the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Texas v. White:

“When Texas became one of the United States, she entered into an indissoluble relation …. There was no place for reconsideration or revocation, except through revolution or through consent of the States.”

Those last five words are where there loophole may be found. It implies that, if the people of any state want to leave the Union, quite simply, they can.

The move could make sense. California is one of the world’s largest economies, bigger than several European nations, and much bigger than any other U.S. state. It’s also home to many of the country’s most gifted entrepreneurs, innovators and creators.

Moreover, as California joined both the other two Pacific coast states to vote Democrat, it’s clear how its residents feel about the prospects of a Trump presidency. There may even be interest from blue-voting neighbors Oregon and Washington, as well as Nevada.

Inevitably, the notion also has its critics. Several have used social media to express their ridicule.

https://twitter.com/_icze4r/status/796487345910546438

https://twitter.com/YayImOnline/status/796491969728016385

Watch this Business Insider video report on the growing movement.

Featured image: Charleston Mercury/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain