In a bold act of defiance against the Trump administration, the state of California will grant free admission to 200 of its state parks this Monday, honouring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
A Direct Challenge to Federal Policy
This move comes as a direct response to a controversial decision by the US Department of the Interior last November. For the first time in 15 years, entry to national parks will carry a charge on Martin Luther King Day after President Donald Trump's administration removed the federal holiday from its list of free admission days. The administration also removed Juneteenth, another day significant to Black history, from the free entry schedule.
California's Democratic Governor, Gavin Newsom, has been scathing in his criticism of the federal order. He accused the Trump Administration of attempting to "erase [King's] legacy and turn national parks and monuments into places of exclusion and fear." Invoking Dr. King's own words, Newsom stated, "Dr. King taught us that 'darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.' California answers with light."
Funding and Symbolic Gestures
The initiative for free vehicle admission at state parks, applicable to passenger vehicles carrying nine or fewer people, is being subsidised by the California State Parks Foundation, a body that is not funded by taxpayers. Among the parks participating are renowned sites like Pfeiffer Big Sur in Monterey and Crystal Cove in Orange County.
Governor Newsom also criticised President Trump for what he perceives as making federal holidays about himself. He pointed out that the president added his own birthday—June 14, which coincides with Flag Day—to the national parks' free admissions list. Furthermore, the governor's office highlighted that California's state park member passes will not feature Trump's face, unlike the recently redesigned national parks membership card.
Wider Political Backlash and Visitor Policies
The political backlash in California has been significant. State Senator Akilah Weber Pierson condemned the removal of the two holidays celebrating Black history, asserting that California will not stand for it. "California continues to revel in the glory of our civil rights pioneers," she affirmed in a statement.
The Governor's Office further emphasised that there would be "no invasive questions for park visitors" in California's parks. This is a pointed reference to a survey imposed by the Department of the Interior at 11 popular national parks, including two in California, which questioned the citizenship of visitors. The federal agency defended the survey, stating it was solely to determine if international visitors should pay a higher admission rate to support park maintenance.
As national parks like Redwood charge for entry this Monday, California's stance presents a clear political and cultural divide. Governor Newsom framed the action as a necessary stand, asking, "What more evidence do we need on what the hell is going on in the United States of America?"
