Left-wing California parents spent years fighting to keep gender identity assemblies in elementary schools.
Now they're outside a middle school with picket signs because kids sang the national anthem.
The assembly happened anyway – and the protesters got exactly what they deserved.
The History Rocks 250 Tour Came to Canyon Hills Junior High in Chino Hills
The "History Rocks 250" assembly at Canyon Hills Junior High School was a stop on the official U.S. Department of Education's 50-state tour celebrating America's birthday.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon designed the program to send federal officials into K-12 schools in all 50 states ahead of July 4, 2026 – America's 250th birthday.
Canyon Hills was California's stop.
Students walked in to find American flags and California Republic flags on every chair.
They recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
The school choir performed the national anthem.
Kids ran trivia contests about the Revolutionary War, served as emcees, and delivered closing speeches about what makes America the greatest country on earth.
Katharine Gorka – Executive Director of the America 250 Civics Education Coalition – addressed the students directly.
"We are the most welcoming country on earth," Gorka told them. "And I love that about this country."
One student closed the program with this: "For generations, families all over the world have come here, searching for freedom, opportunity, and the chance to build a better life."
This is what California parents decided to protest.
Woke Parents Protested Outside Because Turning Point USA Helped Organize It
Parents showed up with signs reading "No politics in school" before the assembly doors even opened.
Some pulled their kids out entirely and kept them home for the day.
Their objection: the coalition includes Turning Point USA and the Heritage Foundation.
"I'm concerned about the views of Turning Point USA and the Heritage Foundation, which produced Project 2025," announced Chino Hills grandparent Debra Esquivel – apparently on behalf of children she decided didn't deserve to hear the national anthem sung by their classmates.
Turning Point USA was founded by Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in September 2025 while speaking at a college campus in Utah.
The organization he built – now led by Erika Kirk – is a formal partner of the U.S. Department of Education in the America 250 coalition.
These parents pulled their kids out of school rather than let them hear the national anthem at a patriotic event celebrating America’s 250.
Chino Valley Unified Board President Walked Onstage and Got Booed
Sonja Shaw – president of the Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education – stepped up to address the crowd and scattered audience members booed her.
"It's OK. I heard," she said – and kept going.
This is the same Sonja Shaw who forced California Attorney General Rob Bonta to back down after he sued her district over parental notification policies.
She tore up a cease-and-desist letter on camera and dared anyone to stop her.
Now she's running for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction – because winning one school district wasn't enough.
She doesn't apologize, she doesn't negotiate, and she never stops moving forward.
After the event – which ran twice to accommodate all students – Shaw went directly at the parents who kept their children home.
"I feel bad their kids missed school – that's a whole day of instruction time," Shaw said. "Obviously every lie that was put out before the event took place did some damage."
The Left Keeps Telling You Exactly Who They Are
Gender identity curricula in kindergarten classrooms? No problem.
A school choir singing the national anthem? That requires picket signs.
The Trump administration built a 50-state federal program to put American history back in the classroom – and these parents showed up outside with signs they couldn't use.
The assembly ran twice.
Every student in that building heard the national anthem, heard what makes this country great, and heard a Department of Education official tell them America is worth loving.
The protesters got a full day of standing outside a celebration of America they couldn't stop.
Sources:
- Zain Khan, "California school attacked by lefty parents and kids over patriotic America 250 event," New York Post, May 10, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education, "U.S. Department of Education, AFPI, TPUSA, Hillsdale College, and Over 40 National and State Organizations Launch America 250 Civics Coalition," ed.gov, September 17, 2025.
- U.S. Department of Education, "Freedom 250 Trail to Independence Tour," ed.gov, 2026.
- Sonja Shaw for California, "About Sonja Shaw," shawforca.com, 2026.
- Liberty Justice Center, "California v. Chino Valley Unified School District," libertyjusticecenter.org, 2025.
