Protest Planned for Fourth of July in Old Pasadena

The nation’s 250th birthday falls on a Saturday this year — the same day of the week that a group of political demonstrators has been showing up at the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue since January.

San Gabriel Foothills Indivisible, a local chapter of the national Indivisible network, said its July 4 edition of the weekly “Save U.S. Saturdays” protest will pair a celebration of America’s birthday with the viral “signs of fascism” demonstration, in which 17 participants will each hold a sign listing one of the “signs of fascism” as identified by historians of authoritarianism, according to the group’s press release. The protest runs from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Old Pasadena intersection. The event will celebrate the national birthday “and protest the weakening of its democracy,” the group said in its press release.

The corner of Colorado Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue has been a central Pasadena gathering point since 1876. Since January 24, the group has used the high-traffic sidewalk for its weekly protests, part of a series it calls “Save U.S. Saturdays.”

July 4, 2026, marks the United States Semiquincentennial — 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The anniversary has drawn national celebrations, including a drone show at the Rose Bowl and neighborhood parades across Pasadena and its surrounding cities.

San Gabriel Foothills Indivisible, formerly known as NELA Indivisible, serves foothill communities from Monrovia to Sunland-Tujunga. It is part of the national Indivisible movement, a progressive grassroots organization co-founded in 2016 by former congressional staffers Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg.

The “signs of fascism” format has been adopted by Indivisible chapters across the country. In a typical demonstration, participants each hold a sign displaying a single characteristic associated with authoritarian rule. The press release said participants are encouraged to bring their own signs and a friend.

All Indivisible events adhere to a shared commitment to nonviolent protest and community safety, according to the group. Organizers said they are trained in de-escalation.

After the 1:00 p.m. close, participants plan to walk to an Old Pasadena establishment for refreshments to continue the celebration, according to the press release.

The Save U.S. Saturdays protest celebrating America’s 250th birthday takes place Saturday, July 4, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the intersection of Colorado Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena. No admission cost is listed. Interviews with organizers or participants are available, according to the press release. To RSVP or for more information, visit mobilize.us/sangabrielfoothillsindivisible/event/972325/, contact Caroline Mays at cmays06@gmail.com or 951.663.0077, or visit sangabrielfoothillsindivisible.org.

The protest is one of several events planned across the area for Independence Day weekend. A FoodieLand food festival and drone show will run July 3 through 5 at the Rose Bowl, and the Madison Heights neighborhood will host its annual parade starting at 11:00 a.m. at Euclid Avenue at Fillmore Street.