Philadelphia slavery exhibit: Panels restored as court fight plays out
WHYY • • general
Key Points:
- Workers have begun restoring the slavery exhibit at Philadelphia’s President’s House Site following a court order requiring the Trump administration to reinstate the panels by Friday amid ongoing litigation.
- U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe compared the removal rationale to Orwellian censorship and mandated the exhibit's return while the lawsuit, filed by the city of Philadelphia, proceeds.
- The exhibit depicts the lives of nine people enslaved by George Washington during his presidency in Philadelphia, and its removal sparked public outcry and legal challenges over attempts to erase history.
- Community members and historians expressed support for the restoration, emphasizing the importance of truthful historical representation as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
- This legal dispute is part of broader resistance against the Trump administration’s efforts
