Summary
- Celebration marks US Marines' 250th anniversary in California.
- Major southern California freeway closed for live artillery firing.
- Live-fire demonstration includes 155mm artillery shells over site.
At 6 a.m. on Saturday, the California Highway Patrol declared that it will close a 17-mile (27-kilometer) section of Interstate 5 for four hours close to Camp Pendleton, a 125,000-acre (50,585-hectare) installation in Oceanside, north-western San Diego County. The hours of operation for the closure are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
According to a statement from the US Marine Corps, the event would feature a live-fire amphibious skills demonstration at Red Beach. At least 15,000 marines, sailors, veterans, and their families are anticipated to attend, and JD Vance, a former enlisted marine who served in Iraq, is set to speak. Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, will also speak.
“The capabilities demonstration will feature integrated Navy and Marine Corps operations across air, land and sea,”
the Marines’ statement said.
The US Marine Corps insisted that the event will comply with established safety protocols, and “no public highways or transportation routes will be closed”.
Due of the safety risk and potential distractions for drivers, the CHP called for the temporary closure of a section of the road and stated in a statement that the military event would include "live ammunition being discharged by the federal government over the freeway."
The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, had earlier in the week denounced the intentions to fire live rounds over Interstate 5 as an "absurd show of force" and "totally uncalled for."
Newsom was worried that the prank would endanger Californians on Saturday morning.
"It's not only wrong, but it's dangerous to fly live rounds over a busy highway without coordination between state, federal, and local partners,"
Newsom said on social media.
The criticism highlighted the escalating hostilities between the governor of California and Donald Trump.
This celebration was granted no exception from Newsom’s ire.
“Using our military to intimidate people you disagree with politically doesn’t make you look strong,”
Newsom said.
“It makes you look weak. It’s reckless, it’s disrespectful, and yet another action beneath the office of the presidency.”
Earlier in October, the navy hosted the president aboard an aircraft carrier off the coast of Virginia to celebrate the same military anniversary. Trump turned that event into a political rally.
This show of force coincides with No Kings rallies and marches being held across the US, including several locations in California, aligning behind a message that the nation’s slide into authoritarian rule under Trump needs to stop.
Newsom cautioned those participating in the rallies:
“I urge our nation to use this weekend’s No Kings marches as a declaration of independence against the tyranny and lawlessness currently running this country. Use your voice. ACT PEACEFULLY. Protect yourself and your community. THERE ARE NO KINGS IN THE UNITED STATES.”
In a statement to the New York Times, a spokesperson for Vance, William Martin, said Newsom was misleading the public about the safety risk for the event on Saturday. He said it was routine training.
“If Gavin Newsom wants to oppose the training exercises that ensure our Armed Forces are the deadliest and most lethal fighting force in the world, then he can go right ahead,”
Martin said.
Matt Rocco, the California department of transportation spokesperson, said:
“This is all because of the White House-directed military event, that for the safety of the public, we need to shut down the freeway since they’re sending live ordnances over the freeway.”
Those who commute between San Diego and Los Angeles may have to spend an additional two hours traveling due to the I5 closure, according to Rocco. According to the governor's office, 80,000 passengers and $94 million worth of freight pass via the expressway every day. Also canceled for the afternoon are passenger train services parallel to the I5.
How does the Marine Corps commemorate its history during the anniversary?
To honor its heritage, history, and legacy over its 250-years of existence, the Marine Corps will launch an array of events and activities in 2025 as part of the largest celebration in its history called the Marine Corps 250 or Sestercentennial. Marine Corps 250 will include outreach and engagement, at the national level, in communities to recognize the contribution of sacrifice and service of Marines dating back to the establishment of the Marine Corps in 1775.
Among the capstone commemoration events of Marine Corps 250 will be two national events at the beginning and at the end of the year and six multi-day Marine Weeks in major cities in the United States: Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Nashville and Atlanta.
The Marine Corps Weeks will consist of ceremonies, static exhibits, Marine Corps assets at-sea, aviation demonstrations, parades and mounted ceremonial units presenting historic and contemporary Marine Corps ceremonies.