The Next250 All of US rally, held a week before the 250th anniversary of the country's founding, will debut the Declaration of Interdependence, an art installation in McPherson Square, just a block from the White House. The installation features collective values that activists believe should define the next 250 years of America's story, including a living wage, access to green spaces, and safe communities.
Grassroots Vision for the Future
Organizers gathered ideas through listening sessions in 36 states, Puerto Rico, and El Salvador, collecting input from people recently deported from the US. Linda Sarsour, an organizer with Next250, stated: 'This event isn't about any one administration or president. This is about staking our place in the historic archive.' The pledge reimagines the Declaration of Independence, aiming to build a country where basic universal values—economic security, healthcare, safe schools, and a livable planet—are prioritized.
Nationwide Mobilization
Beyond the DC flagship event, over 100 Next250 events will take place across the country, including rallies and teach-ins. In Los Angeles, an event titled 'Learn the History They Want You to Forget' will feature a walking tour recognizing sites significant to Black, Latino, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ communities. These events counter the Trump administration's Freedom 250 celebration, which organizers view as a partisan spectacle. Hunter Dunn, a spokesperson for 50501, a partner organizer, criticized Freedom 250 as an 'effort to write Black and Indigenous history out of the national story.'
Defending Constitutional Protections
Next250 emphasizes that the last 250 years belong to ordinary people, and that free speech and the right to organize are worth defending. Sarsour noted: 'We're the first generation in American history that has to tell a younger generation they have less rights than us,' pointing to recent losses in reproductive and voting rights. The rally is part of a busy summer for activists, including Seven Days in DC, Our Copa (protecting fans from ICE raids), a boycott of United Airlines called Fascism Doesn't Fly, and the Good Trouble Lives On action honoring John Lewis.
Looking Ahead
Organizers expect the next nationwide No Kings rally to take place in late summer or early fall, continuing the push for a more inclusive and equitable future.
