Last week a Federal Court judge was extremely critical of the National Park Service (NPS) and the Trump administration for having surreptitiously taken down panels explaining George Washington’s involvement in slavery from the Presidents’ House at Independence National Park in Philadelphia. Judge Cynthia M. Rufe, appointed by George W. Bush, issued a ruling today that prevents the National Park Service from making further changes at the site.
The Presidents’ House was where George Washington and John Adams lived when Philadelphia was the capital of the new United States. Washington owned nine slaves while he was there. Today, Judge Rufe inspected the removed panels and issued an order that “no further removal and/or destruction” of the site “until further order of the court.” The State of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia had sought the order because there are several other displays at the site that deal with slavery.
The judge withheld an order that the NPS rehang the panels that deal with slavery, however.
According to the New York Times:
“According to internal Park Service documents reviewed by The New York Times, the administration has ordered more changes to other parts of Independence National Historical Park, including alterations to displays at the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall that address slavery and the broader struggle for civil rights by Black people.”
Judge Rufe”s order only applies to the displays at the Presidents’ House
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