As America's 250th party grows, so do D.C.'s alternatives
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As America's 250th birthday celebrations ramp up, alternative events are growing in D.C., with several happening this weekend.
Why it matters: Some 250 events organized by Freedom 250 have drawn backlash because of the group's ties to President Trump and concerns that the programming is partisan.
- Plus, many Washingtonians are simply dreading the hubbub that comes with these large-scale events.
Driving the news: The group Next250 is hosting a series of countrywide events Saturday in contrast to the "increasingly narrow and exclusionary narrative from the MAGA regime," per a release — and its flagship gathering will be in D.C.
- The event kicks off at 11am at McPherson Square with art installations, live music, performances, and family activities like a bounce house.
- After, there will be a march toward the White House.
Meanwhile, FreedomFest — an event celebrating D.C.'s culture and fight for statehood — will take place Saturday at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial just off the National Mall.
- Expect performances by local comedians and go-go groups, as well as canvassing for D.C. statehood.
- It's part of the monthlong D.C. Summer of Freedom event, which aims to showcase what organizers see as a disparity between America's 250th celebration of democracy and the District's lack of representation.
And on July 4, the group We the People 250 will host a D.C. march to protest "against authoritarianism and political violence."
- The group will meet at noon by the George Gordon Meade Memorial and carry a 700-foot banner sporting signatures gathered from across the country.
What they're saying: "Many of the official [250] celebrations are focused on commemorating the past," the Next250 co-founders told Axios in a statement, while their gathering will center on shaping "what America can become."
- "The American story is bigger than any one ideology, political party, or official narrative."
The other side: Freedom 250 has said that it's a bipartisan group and that its events are meant to bring the country together.
What we're watching: Whether more counterprogramming pops up in D.C. as the 250 summer continues.