Protests and cancellations mar Trump administration’s America 250 tour

Laura Meckler, Washington Post

There is no evidence that the events themselves push a political message, but the coalition sponsoring the tour is composed entirely of conservative groups.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon bills her “History Rocks!” tour, where she leads students in cheering for America, as a nonpartisan celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday. But across the country, the program’s ties to a bevy of conservative organizations has fostered an unusual level of opposition.

At least four stops have been canceled — including one in Massachusetts, another in Alabama and two in McMahon’s home state of Connecticut — after parents, students and teachers objected to the visits. Stops in Wisconsin, New Jersey and Illinois have been met with protests.

There is no evidence that the events themselves are pushing a political message. But the America 250 Civics Education Coalition that sponsors the tour has produced ideological material and is composedof conservative and religious groups such as Turning Point USA, Moms for Liberty and the Heritage Foundation.It is led by the America First Policy Institute, a pro-Trump advocacy group. Liberal groups were not included, nor were several prominent nonpartisan civics groups such as Civx Now, an ideologically diverse coalition of more than 450 organizations.

“I just found it hypocritical,” Red Zellner, a senior at Murphy High School in Mobile, Alabama, said in an interview. “They tried to say their tour was apolitical while being very publicly supported by strongly political groups.”

After learning that McMahon was coming to Murphy High, Zellner contacted a local liberal group for help organizing a protest. Before the day was out, the visit had been canceled. McMahon traveled to another Alabama school instead.

The events typically include a short speech delivered by McMahon or another department official, along with a history quiz. Speeches provided by the Education Department and local coverage of the events suggest the events are a nonpartisan celebration of America and its origins.

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Nonetheless, the partisan underpinnings of the program have been on public display.

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In Brookfield, Wisconsin, the “History Rocks!” event this month went forward despite a storm of protests, including two online petitions and a flood of emails to school board members. At a school board meeting the following week, parents lined up to register their concerns.

One parent said the sponsors of the civics coalition are “widely known for promoting politically and ideologically driven interpretations of our nation’s history.” Another questioned why any political leader was allowed to address students during class time.

Elmbrook School Board member Mary Wacker said she received about 110 emails within 48 hours of the event’sannouncement —a torrent of feedback that, she said, is “unusual, to say the least.” 

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