OROVILLE, Calif. - The City of Oroville is getting national attention for a resolution they recently passed.
The council has decided to not follow controversial orders issued by the state or federal governments.
In a 6-1 vote, the city council declared Oroville a Constitutional Republic City.
"This mandate is not saying we are against laws or for anarchy," said Oroville Vice Mayor Scott Thomson.
Vice mayor Thomson says it's the city's effort to send a strong message to federal and state leaders.
"I think it's a time for us to draw a line in the sand, enough is enough," Thomson said.
The resolution resolves to not enforce "any executive orders issued by the state of California or by the United States Federal Government that are overreaching or clearly violate our constitutionally protected rights."
The move comes amid the controversy over closing businesses during the pandemic along with mask and vaccine mandates.
"We're not talking about one mandate that's been pushed on us recently, it's a barrage of mandates," Thomson said.
"This is disgusting, it makes me mad," said Liza West, an Oroville resident.
West is among the residents who oppose the resolution.
"I think that we all believe in applying the law and agree in following the law, and this is just ridiculous," West said.
So does Oroville have the right to disregard state and federal orders?
"Ultimately this would be determined by a court," said Lisa Pruitt, a UC Davis law professor.
Pruitt says the resolution may not have any binding legal authority.
“My sense is the strong presumption would be that the city of Oroville does not have the power to do this, I see this primarily as a gesture," Pruitt said.
A constitutional conflict with these city leaders fighting for more local control.
"It makes a statement that says 'you know, enough is enough, we're done, we're tired,'” said a city councilman.
A lawsuit protesting the governor's emergency powers has already been filed by two Republican lawmakers.
