Cristen Hemmins is the current chair of the Lafayette County Democrats but she started her journey through politics around 2011 when she became an anti-Personhood activist.
Hemmins has always known that she was a Democrat even though her parents were never too politically active. According to Hemmins, she was uninterested in politics when she was younger because her parents were not very politically active. Before 2011 her father never made time to vote and her mother was a Democrat but not very involved in politics at the local level.
In 2011 Hemmins got really involved in politics because of her interest in Prop 26, which was Life Begins at the Moment of Fertilization Amendment. Prop 26, commonly known as Personhood, would have changed laws about abortion, IVF treatment and taken away options for a lot of parents.
“I sort of became the non-official spokesperson,” Hemmins said. “The reason I was able to speak out about it and became such a voice for that movement was because when I was 20 and I took a semester at Millsaps in Jackson, I was abducted by two black men and raped and shot twice before I escaped.”
Hemmins became very active in the Personhood protests because of the traumatic experience she went through. If she had gotten pregnant from the rape and personhood was in effect then she would have had no options and would have been forced by the state of Mississippi to keep that baby. There were no exceptions allowed in the law for exceptional circumstances like rape or incest.
Hemmins appeared in many national and local news stories about her experience and activism against Personhood. Hemmins was interviewed by many news organizations such as the Daily Mississippian, Jackson Free Press and the Oxford Eagle. Hemmins also appeared on the Rachel Maddow show twice on MSNBC.
“I spent all day long, everyday obsessed with this. I lost weight and I was just sick with worry over it. So after that is when I got really invested in politics,” Hemmins said.
According to Hemmins she spent all of 2011 on protests, rallies and activism in opposition to Prop 26. Prop 26 was defeated in Mississippi by over 57 %, which shocked Hemmins because of the wide margin; She thought it would be a closer outcome.
In 2012 Hemmins got on the local executive committee in Lafayette County and then the state executive committee. She was elected to go to the Democratic National Convention in 2012. She was inspired to run for senate last year for District 9 with a focus on education but she was defeated.
She focused her attention on the executive committee. There six members for each of the five districts. During the first meeting they elect officers and Cristen was elected Chair.
“I really just do it because there are important things that need to get done and it is the only way to make sure they get done,” Hemmins said.
Hemmins does not get paid to be chair of the Lafayette County Democrats even though it takes a lot of time and effort. Hemmins runs the meetings, organizes fundraisers and volunteers and works at the Clinton Campaign Headquarters all while running a full-time job in advertising and managing her three kids.
“If I got paid for all the time and effort I put into politics I would not have the credit card debt I have,” Hemmins joked. “It would be wonderful.”
Hemmins puts in a lot of hours toward the Lafayette County Democrats but she is passionate about politics and believes it is very important. She was thrilled with the participation of the members of the group.
“I am really proud of this county already. We have so many active people. I think the most important thing is that I be able to delegate and not do it all, Hemmins said. “As chair I think one of the most important things is that I get the word out and have a strong presence in the community.”
Hemmins is very active on social media and runs the Lafayette County Democrats Facebook page as well as their website. According to her it can be difficult to reach a lot of the democrats who are not into technology and are not active on social media.
Hemmins runs the Lafayette County Democrats during her free time when she is not gardening, reading or taking care of her family. Hemmin’s husband is from England so he cannot vote but according to her he just as invested in politics as she is and likes to help her out with activism and rallies. Hemmins met her husband when he stopped at Square Books in Oxford during his bike ride across the United States and he finished the trip before taking a train back to Oxford and they have been together ever since.
Even though her husband and parents are Democrats, the rest of her family is split between the Democrat and Republican Parties. According to her, they cannot talk about politics at family events.
“There was a thanksgiving at my house where one of my aunts stole our yard sign and my husband got it back and put it back by our mailbox,” Hemmins said. “She was pissed off that he had gotten it out of her car and we were like are you kidding me? You stole it from our yard.”
Hemmins is focused on the presidential election right now and campaigning for Hillary Clinton but after the election she will start focusing on education rights and get back to local political activism.
“Shortly after this is done we will have to start paying attention to the capital in Jackson because in January they will come back into session and there is always all sorts of bullshit that we have to protest against and try to stop because of all of the terrible decisions they make down there,” Hemmins said.
Hemmins will focus on education after the election; specifically focusing on how there is not enough funding for schools. Hemmins is very passionate about education and focused her senate run on education. She hopes to make a difference and get more funding for schools so that they can better improve the educational experience for students.
Jennifer Froning