The City of Philadelphia has initiated a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration following the removal of a long-standing slavery exhibit from Independence National Historical Park. The city argues that the action unlawfully altered a historically significant display without proper notice or justification.
The lawsuit, submitted Thursday in federal court, names the U.S. Interior Department, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the National Park Service (NPS), and its acting director Jessica Bowron as defendants. Philadelphia is asking the court to issue a preliminary injunction requiring the immediate restoration of the removed materials.
Significance of the President’s House Exhibit
The dismantled exhibit was located at the President’s House Site, where George Washington and John Adams lived during their presidencies. The display included interpretive panels recognizing the enslaved individuals owned by Washington, along with a detailed timeline outlining the history of slavery in the United States.
According to city attorneys, these elements were not supplemental but central to the exhibit’s purpose, and their removal represents a substantial and improper modification of a historically approved installation.
Exhibit Removal Captured on Video
Footage broadcast by a CNN affiliate showed work crews taking down large exhibit panels on Thursday afternoon. The city maintains that the removal occurred without advance notice or consultation, despite Philadelphia’s longstanding involvement in the site’s historical interpretation.
In its filing, the city stated that eliminating references to enslaved people fundamentally undermines the exhibit’s educational integrity and historical accuracy.
Executive Order Cited as Possible Motive
The exhibit’s removal coincides with broader efforts by the Trump administration to eliminate cultural content deemed inconsistent with presidential policy. In an executive order signed last March, Donald Trump accused the previous administration of promoting what he described as “corrosive ideology.”
The order specifically referenced Independence National Historical Park and directed the Interior Secretary to remove materials that “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.” The order further claimed that certain historical narratives distort facts and unfairly portray the nation’s founding and achievements.
City Alleges Lack of Explanation
Philadelphia’s legal team argues that the National Park Service has offered no public explanation for the exhibit’s removal. The lawsuit asserts that the action appears to have been taken solely in response to the executive order, without a transparent review process or historical justification.
City attorneys emphasized that the absence of reasoning or documentation raises serious concerns about political interference in public history.
Political and Community Reaction
Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson strongly criticized the removal, stating that it represents an attempt to sanitize American history. He warned that discomfort should not be used as a reason to erase factual accounts of slavery.
Civil rights attorney Michael Coard, a founding member of the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition that helped establish the exhibit in 2010, described the action as deeply offensive and racially motivated in a social media post.
Part of a Broader Cultural Rollback
This incident follows similar actions taken under the Trump administration. Last year, the American Battle Monuments Commission removed a display in the Netherlands honoring African American World War II soldiers and acknowledging the discrimination they endured.
Additionally, the White House ordered a review of Smithsonian museums and exhibits to ensure compliance with presidential guidelines on acceptable historical interpretation. Trump later criticized the Smithsonian publicly, arguing that its exhibits focus excessively on negative aspects of U.S. history while ignoring national progress and future potential.
Requests for Comment
CNN has contacted the White House, the National Park Service, the Interior Department, and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker for responses. As of the filing, no official explanations had been released.
Philadelphia’s lawsuit highlights a growing national debate over how American history—particularly slavery—is presented in public spaces.
City officials argue that removing historically accurate exhibits under political pressure undermines education, transparency, and public trust.
As the case moves forward, it may set an important precedent on the limits of executive authority over cultural and historical institutions.
FAQs
Why is Philadelphia suing the federal government?
The city claims the National Park Service unlawfully removed key slavery exhibits without notice or justification.
What was included in the removed exhibit?
It featured displays honoring enslaved individuals at the President’s House and a timeline of American slavery.
What does Philadelphia want the court to do?
The city is seeking a preliminary injunction to restore the removed exhibits immediately.
Source: DanKaminisky
Source Link: https://dankaminsky.com/philadelphia-files-lawsuit-against-trump-administration-over-removal-of-slavery-exhibit/