Indivisible OC 45 (IOC45) was formed to turn out Democratic voters and advance Democratic political priorities within California’s 45th Congressional district. It is one of approximately 6,000 left-of-center Indivisible Project local organizations formed to resist President Donald Trump’s agenda. ¹

IOC45 is a partner of Field Team 6, a national Democrat voter registration and mobilization network. ²

Overview

Indivisible OC 45 is an informal left-of-center voter turnout organization based in Orange County, California and working mostly within California’s 45th Congressional district. It is an affiliate of the Indivisible Project. ³

Among the activities of the organization are holding protests and campaigning for Democratic candidates. ⁴

Activities

In February 2018, Indivisible OC 45 co-sponsored a series of demonstrations against proposals by then-President Donald Trump to increase domestic energy production. ⁵ Protesters demonstrated in front of the offices of then-U.S. Reps. Mimi Walters (R-CA) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA). They also demonstrated in and canvassed voters in Walters’ neighborhood. ⁶

In October 2019, IOC45 counterprotested Trump supporters who were protesting Democratic Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA). Porter had just recently announced her support of impeaching Trump over the latter’s request that Ukrainian officials investigate corruption allegations involving former Vice President Joe Biden. Demonstrators on both sides mustered up about 40 people on each side. ⁷

In September 2020, IOC45 co-sponsored a demonstration billed as honoring the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In addition, the demonstration opposed President Trump’s intent to name a successor to Justice Ginsburg. The demonstrators wanted the seat filled by the next president. ⁸

The women who took part in the demonstration were dressed in costumes from the dystopian science fiction book and TV series “The Handmaid’s Tale.” One of the speakers at the demonstration said that all women were going to be “handmaids” if Trump was allowed to pick Ginsburg’s replacement. ⁹

Leadership

The chair of Indivisible OC 45 is Maria Olivieri Minney. She has been chair since August 2018. ¹⁰

1. “About.” Indivisible. Accessed December 10, 2022. https://indivisibleguide.com/about.
2. “How to Register Democrats in Person, the Field Team 6 WAY – Training Manual – 5/26/2021.” Google Docs. Accessed December 10, 2022. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HH7kNFl3uW4tWCKFA8KI1PZUuKAiBCSvP7U4-ucZPbc/edit.
3. Brazil, Ben. “Trump Supporters and Anti-Trump Demonstrators Clash Outside Congress Member’s Irvine Office.” Los Angeles Times. October 11, 2019. https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/entertainment/story/2019-10-11/tn-wknd-et-impeachment-rally-20191011.
4. Brazil, Ben. “Trump Supporters and Anti-Trump Demonstrators Clash Outside Congress Member’s Irvine Office.” Los Angeles Times. October 11, 2019. https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/entertainment/story/2019-10-11/tn-wknd-et-impeachment-rally-20191011.
5. Ritchie, Erika I. “Orange County Activists Gather at Victoria Beach to Protest off-Shore Drilling.” Orange County Register. November 21, 2018. https://www.ocregister.com/2018/02/23/orange-county-activists-gather-at-victoria-beach-to-protest-off-shore-drilling/.
6. Ritchie, Erika I. “Orange County Activists Gather at Victoria Beach to Protest off-Shore Drilling.” Orange County Register. November 21, 2018. https://www.ocregister.com/2018/02/23/orange-county-activists-gather-at-victoria-beach-to-protest-off-shore-drilling/
7. Brazil, Ben. “Trump Supporters and Anti-Trump Demonstrators Clash Outside Congress Member’s Irvine Office.” Los Angeles Times. October 11, 2019. https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/entertainment/story/2019-10-11/tn-wknd-et-impeachment-rally-20191011.
8. Tapp, Tom. “Women Wear ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Costumes at Ruth Bader Ginsburg Vigil to Protest Trump and McConnell’s Actions.” Yahoo! News. September 21, 2020. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/women-wear-handmaid-tale-costumes-024828397.html.
9. Tapp, Tom. “Women Wear ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Costumes at Ruth Bader Ginsburg Vigil to Protest Trump and McConnell’s Actions.” Yahoo! News. September 21, 2020. https://ca.news.yahoo.com/women-wear-handmaid-tale-costumes-024828397.html.
10. “Maria Olivieri Minney’s Schedule for Indivisible California Summit 2019.” Maria Olivieri Minney. Accessed January 2, 2023. https://caindivisiblesummit2019.sched.com/mcominney.