Yes, it could. And that’s exactly why it matters.
Policies that take a moral stand—especially on civil rights—almost always come with backlash. But we must remember: being afraid of division is not the same as being wrong. Ventura has an opportunity to be on the right side of history, and that requires courage, not comfort.
Controversy Is Inevitable—But So Is the Need for Protection
When cities passed sanctuary policies to protect immigrants, they were threatened with funding cuts.
When local governments resisted the Patriot Act’s surveillance reach, they were accused of aiding terrorists.
When school districts affirmed trans students, they faced lawsuits and public outrage.
And yet, many of those policies stood the test of time.
Many of those cities are now seen as leaders, not radicals.
The question isn’t will there be pushback?
The question is: will we let fear silence our responsibility to protect people in danger?
What Kind of “Division” Are We Talking About?
- Some residents may feel uncomfortable with Ventura taking a bold stand.
- Political opponents may try to stir fear using words like “illegal,” “radical,” or “anti-American.”
- There may be threats of legal action or funding cuts, just as we saw with immigrant sanctuary cities.
But the community is already divided when transgender people don’t feel safe.
The city is already vulnerable when it refuses to set policy against unjust federal targeting.
Division isn’t created by action—it’s revealed by inaction.
Leadership Isn’t Neutral—It’s Brave
We honor leaders who stood up when it was hard, not when it was safe:
- Cities that resisted Japanese internment during WWII
- Mayors who protected immigrants during ICE crackdowns
- School boards that defended LGBTQ+ youth when states wouldn’t
- Communities that shielded Jewish residents during Nazi occupations
(yes, it’s that serious—because history repeats when people assume it won’t)
Choosing not to act because of “backlash” is choosing to leave vulnerable people exposed—especially when that backlash is exactly what those communities already face every day.
Retaliation Is Real—But So Is Protection
Let’s be honest: Yes, there are political risks.
But those risks are manageable—and many of the legal threats used in the past have failed in court.
For example:
- Federal attempts to strip funding from sanctuary cities were repeatedly blocked by courts.
- Lawsuits over trans student protections often lost due to strong civil rights precedents.
- Community support often strengthens when cities act with clarity and values.
Ventura won’t be acting alone.
It will be acting as part of a larger movement to establish civil rights zones where humanity is non-negotiable.
Bottom Line
Yes, there may be backlash.
Yes, people may try to divide us.
But doing nothing will divide us even more—by telling some members of our community:
You are not worth protecting.
History does not remember who stayed neutral.
It remembers who stood up.