San Diego County's planned July 4th celebration has drawn criticism for its extended schedule of speeches dedicated to various minority groups, which a local Republican mayor described as "woke left-wing speeches."
The schedule, revealed by El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, features nearly three hours of remarks beginning at 5:45 p.m. These include a tribal blessing and land acknowledgement, followed by stories from tribal, Latino, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, LGBTQIA+, and Black and African communities. The U.S. National Anthem and the Black National Anthem are scheduled for a 15-minute performance window. The fireworks display is set to commence at 9:05 p.m., after the speech portion of the event concludes.
Mayor Wells shared his disapproval of the schedule on social media platform X, proposing an alternative focused on "America and its greatness" along with fireworks and the national anthem. His post prompted questioning from social media users regarding the schedule's authenticity, leading Wells to share documentation from a San Diego County meeting.
According to Wells and meeting documents, the celebration plans were initially brought forward for the region's 250th celebration. The current schedule was developed by three Democratic supervisors who reportedly tied the event to the county's "equity, inclusion, and racial justice goals" and assigned planning to the Office of Equity and Racial Justice. The documented purpose of coordinating with this office and the county's Tribal Liaison was to ensure "meaningful community engagement, with particular emphasis on tribal nations and indigenous groups, immigrant communities... LGBTQ+ communities, and other historically underserved populations."
The schedule has faced backlash online, with critics arguing it prioritizes inclusivity over patriotism and deviates from the holiday's traditional themes. Some users expressed disbelief, while others voiced concerns about the length and focus of the planned remarks.