On July 17, individuals gathered in front of the Liberty Bell in Bakersfield to protest the Trump administration’s current policies that increase mass deportations and cut funding for Medicaid, LGBTQ+ services, and public education programs. The nationwide protest took place across several cities in California.
The event marked the anniversary of the late Rep. John Lewis, a former American civil rights activist who advocated for nonviolent action to challenge injustice. Lewis coined the phrase “good trouble lives on” to remind people that power lies with them.
Carter Beardsley, the youngest delegate to the CADEM (California Democratic Party) and the secretary of the Kern County Young Democrats, shared why this call to action feels pivotal at this moment.
“What has been going on in Washington, D.C., and across our country is horrendous. It’s abhorrent—there’s not a whole lot of other words you can use. Day by day, it keeps getting worse,” said Beardsley. “So we’re here to show up and show people, including David Valadao, who voted against his constituents, that we are not backing down and that we are here to show up for those who need us.”
Rep. David Valadao (CA-22) currently faces backlash after he voted in favor of the Big Beautiful Bill, which will reduce healthcare assistance for Medicaid recipients. The bill increases border security and includes cuts to education funding, such as student financial aid, food assistance, and more. Sixty-eight percent of constituents in Valadao’s district rely on Medicaid, but with the current healthcare cuts, the majority will lose access to care.
Beardsley also highlighted that at each of these events, CADEM provides voter registration forms for community members. In 2024, only about 10% of registered voters in Kern County cast their ballots in the primary election.
Ruth Grieves, a Kern County resident, expressed that the current state of the world is “reminiscent of Nazi Germany.” She also shared how disheartening it feels to watch families torn apart by mass deportations under the current administration.
Kellie, vice president of DWK (Democratic Women of Kern), emphasized the detrimental effects of defunding services like Medicaid. “Sixty-eight percent of people will lose access to their healthcare and those services. Medicaid is vitally important for communities,” said Kellie.
With these cuts in mind, individuals will face longer wait times for healthcare assistance in hospitals and clinics.
Hospitals must follow EMTALA—the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act—which requires them to treat patients who cannot afford services. Kellie explained the impact: “You’re going to see longer wait times in emergency rooms because that’s where everybody’s going to show up. You are going to lose labor and delivery because 80 percent of pregnant people have Medicaid.”
“We’re going to see fewer OB-GYNs in our community. We are going to lose those services,” said Kellie, referring to the discontinuation of Medicaid.
