Jessie Lopez: “I am not a puppet. They want to demonize us, blame Latinos. I am not here to be afraid.”

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Jessie Lopez knows what it’s like to be born, grow up and deal with the problems of the city of Santa Ana.

The voice of Santa Ana councilwoman Jessie Lopez is firm and powerful, like her story.

Daughter of Salvadoran parents, she grew up in Santa Ana among a Mexican population, listening to Mexican music.

“I felt confused at first, but my mom is a very strong person, she taught me to face adversity,” she says.

And nothing can say more about that than her victory when the powerful Santa Ana Police Association tried to overthrow her.

“I won, my voters, my community helped me. I owe it to them, I see myself as a community organizer, not as a powerful politician. I care about their problems, evictions, lack of jobs, gentrification. That’s what’s important,” she adds.

Lopez not only defeated the police but also a part of the council that supported the police’s interests.

“When you fight against evictions to prevent homelessness, for the right to continue having a place to live in Santa Ana, you face this. I was born and raised here, I could have a corporate job, but I’m interested in the community,” she says.

Born and raised in Santa Ana, Jessie was brought up in a working-class household. Jessie and her siblings attended Hoover Elementary, Willard Intermediate, and Santa Ana High School. Jessie continued her post-secondary educational career by pursuing an A.A. at Santa Ana College and a B.A. in Sociology at California State University, Long Beach. Throughout her time in college, Jessie worked two jobs to support herself financially through school. As an undergraduate student, she helped organize students and led campaigns to address sexual assault on campus and supported efforts in making higher education more accessible for individuals such as herself, according to her website.

“They can’t take it away,” she says firmly. “They want to demonize us, blame Latinos. I am not here to be afraid. They can’t use us as chess pieces.”

“I came to politics not to be a puppet. Stopping gentrification is everyone’s job,” she says.

She cares deeply about Santa Ana, as she was born and raised there.

“I remember the fear I had just walking from home to school. It still exists, we are losing jobs, there are fewer students in schools, parents have had to move because of the high cost of living,” she adds.

In the conversation, we reminisced about life in Santa Ana, one of the most Latino cities in California, Fourth Street, and the Martinez Bookstore.

“They can’t take it away,” she says firmly. “They want to demonize us, blame Latinos. I am not here to be afraid. They can’t use us as chess pieces.”

Lopez is launching her re-election campaign for next year.

“I’m not going anywhere, I will be here, fighting for my place,” she adds.

The councilwoman faces on going pressures in her position and has therefore prioritized her health at this time.

“If I am well, the community I serve is will also be well. I take long walks with my mom, meditate, and have improved my diet . In this life, I have learned one lesson, family support makes you strong, I am strong thanks to them, that is also a conversation i have with the community,” she concludes.

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