Federal officials removed an exhibit on slavery in Philadelphia’s historic district, sparking controversy over how America’s past is remembered.
Exhibit Removal Sparks Controversy
At the end of January, employees of the National Park Service dismantled an outdoor exhibition in Philadelphia’s historic center devoted to the role of slavery in the early United States. The location is significant as it’s where the Founding Fathers adopted the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago.
When the Trump administration defended the removal by claiming the exhibition’s message was false and contrary to national values, outraged residents accused it of attempting to impose a whitewashed version of history.
Lawsuit and Court Decision
Philadelphia authorities immediately filed a federal lawsuit, arguing that the National Park Service’s interference with the exhibition without the city’s consent was illegal. On Monday, Judge Cynthia Rufe sided with the city and ordered the federal agency to reinstall the 34 panels.
In her decision, Judge Rufe criticized the government for attempting to replace “objective facts with a distorted narrative,” noting that such manipulation of collective memory reminded her of George Orwell’s “1984.”
Judge’s Strong Rebuke
“The removed elements of the exhibition were not just decorations that could be arbitrarily taken down and put back; they were a form of commemoration of African men, women, and children who lived, worked and died in the United States as enslaved people,” the judge wrote in her ruling.
She added that the administration “cannot arbitrarily decide what is true based on its own whim or the whims of its superior.” The White House has already announced plans to appeal the decision.
