As Trump takes power, Santa Barbara residents head to DC to protest and celebrate

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Members of the Central Coast are packing up their suitcases to head to Washington DC. 

Some will attend the presidential inauguration, to watch as Donald Trump gets sworn in as the 45th President. Others will join thousands during Saturday’s Women’s March on Washington.

Two Santa Barbara residents are heading to the nation’s capital for very different reasons.

Greg Gandrud: “This is the beginning of a movement in America”

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Gangrud is a tax lawyer in Carpinteria, former chairman of the Santa Barbara County Republican Committee and volunteer for Donald Trump’s campaign (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

“This is the beginning of a movement in America. There’s a lot that needs to be done in this country, and I look forward to Trump accomplishing a lot; increasing our security, defeating ISIS, creating jobs, making sure health care is actually affordable, replacing aging infrastructure and reforming social security and medicare.

Trump won in nearly an electoral landslide. He won a lot of states that traditionally vote democratic. It’s important that we have a smooth transition of power. It’s a hallmark of our American democracy, and I think it’s something we should all be excited about.

I think it’s important for people who are upset about Trump becoming president to give him a chance, be open minded and see what he does in his first 100 days, because I think he’s really going to emphasize trying to fix some things in America that need to be fixed.”

Ashley Tidey: “Democracy can happen and is going to happen on the streets”

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Ashley Tidey is a teacher at Laguna Blanca School in Santa Barbara. She and her daughters, Aura and Frances Carlson, are heading to D.C. for Saturday’s Women’s March. (The original image is no longer available, please contact KCRW if you need access to the original image.)

“This feeling of wanting to go is from the heart. Some of the things that Trump has done and said could have actually gotten him suspended from middle school and high school, and what effect will his words have on reproductive health, gender equity and pay equity? Those issues motivate me.

I thought it would be cool to give to my own kids what I give to my students, which is live learning outside the classroom. Take the knowledge and skills you learn in the classroom and and test those thoughts and beliefs with other people. Democracy can happen and is going to happen on the streets right now, for these kids, in a way that they have had no understanding of. Being able to process that together is exciting.”

Are you heading from Santa Barbara or Ventura to D.C.? Tweet us your photos from the nation’s capitol @KCRWinSB!