A Southern California middle school assembly celebrating theupcoming US 250th birthdaysparked furious backlash from left-wing parents and activists who accused organizers of bringing conservative politics into the classroom.
The event, dubbed “History Rocks 250,” was held this week at Canyon Hills Junior High School inChino Hillsand featured patriotic displays, student performances, and speeches focused on American history and civic pride.
The United States will celebrate its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026 — marking 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
But before students even walked through the doors, protesters gathered outside the campus holding signs reading, “No politics in school,” while some parents reportedly kept their children home over concerns about the conservative groups tied to the event, according toABC7 Eyewitness News.
The uproar centered largely on the assembly’s links to conservative organizationsTurning Point USAand the Heritage Foundation.
“I’m concerned about the views of Turning Point USA and the Heritage Foundation, which producedProject 2025,” Chino Hills grandparent Debra Esquivel said while criticizing the event.
Turning Point USA was founded byconservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated last year during an event hosted by the organization at a college campus in Utah.
Despite the controversy, the assembly moved ahead with patriotic themes woven throughout the program.
Students and faculty opened the gathering with the Pledge of Allegiance before the school choir performed the national anthem.
Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education, addressed the crowd and was met with scattered boos from some audience members as she walked onstage.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
