In a controversial move, the Huntington Beach City Council in southern California has come under fire for blocking monthlong celebrations of Black history, women's history, and Pride. The conservative-leaning council, known for its anti-housing development stance, voted in favor of replacing these celebrations with programming that focuses on local history and independence. This decision has sparked a fierce debate about inclusivity and the city's direction.

The agenda item, introduced on December 19th, prohibits any programming related to previously established honorary celebrations from taking place on city-owned property or being featured on city communication platforms, including social media posts. Natalie Moser, a city council member who opposed the action, expressed her disappointment with the decision, highlighting her desire for Huntington Beach to be recognized as a welcoming and inclusive community.

The language of the agenda item suggests that programming meant to acknowledge the history of marginalized groups, such as Black Americans and LGBTQ+ individuals, will be substituted with content focused on local railroad and surfing history. Additionally, the proposal includes a monthlong tribute to the discovery of oil in Huntington Beach called the "Black Gold Jubilee."

This move by the city council is the latest in a series of actions that reflect the national culture wars. Ever since the election of four conservative council members on anti-housing development platforms, mayor Gracey Van Der Mark, mayor pro tem Pat Burns, and councilmembers Casey McKeon and Tony Strickland have been at the center of contentious decisions. These include disallowing Pride flags on city property, declaring itself a "no mask and no vaccine mandate" city, and creating a review board for children's library books.

Critics argue that these actions demonstrate a lack of support for the valuable resources that libraries provide and highlight a growing culture war within the city. Council member Dan Kalmick, who voted against the agenda item, believes that this decision is merely an attempt to distract from the council's alleged misconduct and breakage of city policies.

Despite the actions by the conservative council majority, many Huntington Beach residents disagree with their approach. Several residents expressed their disapproval of the agenda item through emails to the council members. One resident highlighted the need to address real issues such as crime, homelessness, and infrastructure, rather than focusing on divisive measures. Another resident criticized the decision, stating that educators and professionals should be responsible for handling programs related to historic heritage, not citizen volunteers with political agendas.

Huntington Beach, a majority white community located in Orange County, has a history of racial tensions and extremist demonstrations. Previous incidents include a "Stop the Steal" rally in 2020, a "White Lives Matter" rally in 2021, and the distribution of Ku Klux Klan propaganda. Similar materials were discovered in nearby Newport Beach.

While acknowledging these incidents, Natalie Moser and Dan Kalmick contend that the far-right fringe does not represent the majority of Huntington Beach residents. They believe that their fellow residents value inclusivity and reject the council majority's divisive actions.

The decision to block diverse celebrations has ignited a broader conversation about the city's identity and its commitment to inclusivity. As the debate continues, the outcome of this controversial move remains uncertain, with critics of the council's decision vowing to fight for a more diverse and inclusive Huntington Beach.