Two hundred California state parks are defying President Donald Trump by allowing free admission on Monday.
For the first time in 15 years, national parks will charge for entry on Martin Luther King Day after the president removed the federal holiday from the list of free admission days.
The November announcement from the Department of the Interior also removed Juneteenth from the list.
However, Gavin Newsom and the State of California have chosen to ignore the order and will be allowing free entry to state parks on January 19 in honor of the Civil Rights hero.
Newsom accused the Trump Administration of trying to 'erase [King's] legacy and turn national parks and monuments in places of exclusion and fear.'
'Dr. King taught us that "darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that,"' the Democrat said. 'California answers with light.'
The Governor also slammed Trump for making the federal holiday about him, while also adding his birthday - June 14, which coincides with Flag Day to the free admissions.
The president also recently putt his face on the National Parks member card.
The state of California is defying Trump to allow free admission to 200 state parks for Martin Luther King Day
The Civil Rights hero's holiday was removed from a list of federal holidays where admission would be free (pictured: Topanga State Park)
'What more evidence do we need on what the hell is going on in the United States of America?' Newsom said.
The Golden State's efforts were subsidized through the California State Parks Foundation, which is not taxpayer-funded.
State Senator Akilah Weber Pierson called out the Trump Administration for removing the two federal holidays that celebrate black history from the list, saying California will not stand for it.
'California continues to revel in the glory of our civil rights pioneers,' she said in a statement.
The Governor's Office also highlighted that member passes for state parks will not bear Trump's face on it like the national card and said there will be 'no invasive questions for park visitors'.
The comment comes after the Department of the Interior imposed a survey on the National Parks questioning citizenship of visitors at the 11 most popular spots in the US, including two parks that reside in California.
The federal agency said the question was only to determine if the visitor would be required to pay the higher admissions cost for being an international visitor.
Governor Gavin Newsom slammed Trump for making the holiday about him after MLK Day was removed, along with Juneteenth
The Golden State's efforts were subsidized through the California State Parks Foundation, which is not taxpayer-funded, to allow free vehicle admissions on Monday (pictured: Sonoma Coast State Park)
National Parks, such as Redwood (pictured), will cost money to enter on Monday
'US residents will continue to enjoy affordable pricing, while nonresidents will pay a higher rate to help support the care and maintenance of America’s parks,' a statement read.
Among the list of 200 parks with free admission, including Pfeiffer Big Sur in Monterey and Crystal Cove in Orange County.
The free admission works for passenger vehicles carrying nine or less people.
