Officials in San Diego County, as well as its Democratic-led Board of Supervisors, are facing opposition over an America 250 Fourth of July celebration. The event was initially intended to honor the Declaration of Independence but now features sponsorship rules centered on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
The celebration is slated to include a tribal blessing, a land acknowledgment, and nearly two hours of community stories emphasizing ‘historically underserved populations.’ Critics, including Bill Wells, the mayor of El Cajon in San Diego County, argue that focus on America’s founding seems diminished in the event’s plans.
The event, suffering from a lack of necessary funding for a complete setup, reportedly lost at least one sponsor after imposing DEI principles as a participation condition, according to materials and emails obtained by Fox News Digital. ‘I have an alternative plan: Acknowledge America and its greatness. Celebrate with fireworks and the American National Anthem,’ Wells commented on X, sharing the event’s planned schedule, which aligns with an internal document obtained by Fox News Digital.
A flyer shared online by San Diego County advertises a Fourth of July celebration at Waterfront Park in 2026, marking America’s 250th anniversary. The event rundown, obtained by Fox News Digital, mentions a ‘Tribal Intimate blessing welcoming to land,’ followed by guest arrival and a sound check. It then includes a ‘Welcoming and Land Acknowledgment,’ a ‘Tribal Invocation,’ the Black national anthem, and then the regular national anthem. Nearly two hours will be dedicated to community stories from local tribal, Latino, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, LGBT, and Black and African communities.
The event will also feature music, food trucks, booths, and other ‘cultural presentations,’ concluding with fireworks and clean-up. ‘The official government July 4th itinerary of San Diego reads like an opening ceremony of the Democratic Socialists of America convention,’ quipped David McIntosh, President of Club for Growth, a conservative political advocacy group.
In February, Republican San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond proposed a Fourth of July event ‘commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence’ and highlighted the area’s deep connection to national defense and civic institutions.
However, the board, controlled by a 3-2 Democratic majority, later introduced and passed a motion to collaborate with the Office of Equity and Racial Justice and the county’s Tribal Liaison. This amendment aimed to enhance community engagement focused on tribal nations, immigrant communities, LGBT communities, and other ‘historically underserved groups.’
Desmond and Anderson, Republican supervisors, supported the 250th anniversary celebration for the region, but the majority Democrats amended it to align with the county’s ‘equity, inclusion, and racial justice goals.’ This planning was assigned to the Office of Equity and Racial Justice, as explained by Wells on X, who also shared meeting minutes that illustrated the Democrats’ modifications.
‘Independence Day, especially this one, is about celebrating and honoring America,’ Wells told Fox News Digital. ‘The county’s plan ignores this and leans towards grievance, suggesting our country lacks greatness or pride. This is offensive, especially as taxpayer money funds the event.’
Changes included requiring event donors and sponsors to endorse DEI principles; this requirement led at least one sponsor to withdraw, as indicated in county emails reviewed by Fox News Digital. A potential $2,500 donation did not proceed due to the donor’s refusal to fill out a form confirming alignment with county DEI values and support for immigrant communities, the emails noted. Separate communications indicated the event is short by several thousand dollars needed for a full stage and sound setup.
Robby Starbuck, an anti-DEI activist, claimed, ‘Democrats are essentially excluding White community members from the Fourth of July’ due to the focus on ‘underserved populations,’ describing the event as ‘vile.’
Fox News Digital reached out to San Diego County and its Department of Parks and Recreation for comment on the criticism but received no response. Alec Schemmel, a Politics Reporter for Fox News Digital, covered the report. He is based in the Washington D.C.-Baltimore Metro Area and originally from Charlotte, North Carolina.
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