A recent visit by U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe revealed that historical exhibits about slavery at the President’s House in Philadelphia were not destroyed after being removed by the National Park Service under an executive order. These panels, detailing the lives of nine people enslaved at the home while President George Washington resided there, are part of a federal court lawsuit between the city and Trump administration.
Yesterday, Judge Rufe, after examining all 34 panels stored near the National Constitution Center, clarified that the exhibits suffered some damage but not to the extent of deliberate harm or continued deterioration. Speaking to PHL17, she stated, “I did not see anything that concerned me about the condition, because there are some marks, but I can’t portray where they are from, and I do not believe that they’re in a worsened condition now." However, Michael Coard, co-founder of the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, noted some slight damage to the panels during an interview obtained by the Philadelphia Tribune, showcasing his discontent as he compared the situation to "taking the Liberty Bell and putting it in somebody's basement."
The legal skirmish, parked by the city’s argument that the federal government had breached an agreement necessitating city approval for alterations to the exhibits, has led to a lawsuit. Mayor Cherelle Parker's administration launched legal action when the Park Service removed the educational panels on January 22, following "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" directive by President Trump. Local 21 News reports that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has filed a brief to support this lawsuit.
Amidst a wintery scene, Judge Rufe and her company visited the President's House site, a stark contrast to the once informative and immersive memorial that now stands void of its comprehensive historical context. In spite of snow blanketing the grounds, the name-engraved stone and some remaining references to the original nine enslaved individuals silently attest to the site’s contested narrative. Mijuel Johnson, as told to reporters, points out the significance of this historic locale in an interview with the Philadelphia Tribune, detailing ATAC's efforts leading to the memorial's creation.
Rufe has since ordered the government to "continue to securely store all removed panels and to mitigate any further deterioration or damage," according to an inspection report and has given the city due time to file an amended complaint and motion for a preliminary injunction. The city spokesperson declined comment, in observance of the ongoing litigation, with the Department of the Interior yet to return requests for commentary at the time of publication, as detailed by the Philadelphia Tribune.
