250/125 Campaign Social Media Kit

 

United States Declaration of Independence - Wikipedia

Why 250?

2026 marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, when the United States rejected colonial rule and proclaimed that governments derive their power from the “consent of the governed.”

This anniversary is an opportune moment to reveal a striking contradiction: the United States declared independence from Britain over grievances about colonial rule, yet continues to govern millions of people in its territories under a colonial legal framework. 

Why 125?

In 2026, it will also be 125 years since the first Insular Case, meaning that the colonial legal framework these cases established has existed for half of U.S. history. The Insular Cases are a series of early 1900s Supreme Court decisions that created the doctrine of incorporation and the legal category of  “unincorporated territories.”

This doctrine allows the U.S. to:

1. Govern territories without granting full constitutional and civil rights

2. Treat territories as mere possessions rather than parts of its sovereign jurisdiction

3. Deny full self-determination and self-governance

Even members of the Supreme Court have criticized these decisions. Justice Neil Gorsuch called the framework "American colonialism" and said they were rooted in racial stereotypes, while Justice Sonia Sotomayor has written that they were based on beliefs that were “odious and wrong.”

The Insular Cases | Past & Present | KMUW

Who Is Affected?

People in:

  • Puerto Rico
  • Guam
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • American Samoa
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • + 6 million diaspora living in the 50 States

Messaging Guidelines

This campaign will be successful if it builds common ground. It is focused on demanding accountability and advocating for self-determination for all U.S. territories. The campaign avoids undermining or supporting specific status preferences (statehood, independence, etc.). and/or partisan framings.

Caption Templates

  • "250 years after rejecting colonial rule, the United States still exercises colonial rule over its territories. The Insular Cases, starting in 1901, created a legal framework that allows Congress to govern territories unilaterally, without full constitutional or civil rights. Over 3.6 million people still live with the consequences today. Colonial rule isn’t history. It’s happening now. #250125 #ColonialRuleIsNow #EndTheInsularCases #righttodemocracy"

 

  • "In 1776, the United States declared what became a basic democratic principle: governments derive their power from 'consent of the governed.' For the 125 years since 1901, the Insular Cases have allowed Congress to govern U.S. territories without full democratic rights. That contradiction still exists today. Learn more about how these rulings continue to shape life in the territories at https://www.righttodemocracy.us/ #250125 #ColonialRuleIsNow #righttodemocracy"

 

  • "2026 marks two anniversaries: 250 years since the Declaration of Independence and 125 years since the first Insular Case. That means that for half of U.S. history, the U.S. government has imposed colonial rule over its territories. Colonial rule isn’t just history. It’s a now problem. #250125 #EndTheInsularCases #righttodemocracy"

 

  • "More than 3.6 million people live in U.S. territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. For 125 years, the Insular Cases have allowed unequal treatment under the Constitution. Learn how these rulings still impact everyday life in the territories at https://www.righttodemocracy.us/ #250125 #ColonialRuleIsNow #PuertoRico #Guam #USVI #AmericanSamoa #CNMI"

 

  • "'Consent of the governed.' Those words helped define democracy in the United States 250 years ago. Yet for 125 years, the Insular Cases have allowed the U.S. to govern its territories differently. If self-determination is a founding principle, the question remains: why does colonial law still exist? #250125 #ColonialRuleIsNow #righttodemocracy"

 

  • "Many people in the United States have never heard of the Insular Cases. Yet these Supreme Court decisions have defined the relationship between the U.S. and its territories for 125 years. Understanding this history is the first step toward addressing it. Learn more through our resources https://www.righttodemocracy.us/. #250125 #EndTheInsularCases #righttodemocracy"

 

  • "250 / 125. Two anniversaries. One unresolved contradiction. 250 years since the United States rejected colonial rule. 125 years since the Insular Cases created a colonial framework for governing U.S. territories. Colonial rule is not just history. It’s a now problem. #250125 #ColonialRuleIsNow #righttodemocracy"

Hashtags

Primary:
#250125 #ColonialRuleIsNow
#EndTheInsularCases #Righttodemocracy

Territory-specific:
#PuertoRico #Guam #CNMI
#USVI #AmericanSamoa

Graphics to Share

  • Shareable graphics can be found here

Call to Action