PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s surrounding counties are standing in solidarity with the city, in a call to restore stories of enslaved people at the President's House exhibit in Old City.
Until just a few weeks ago, the President’s House on Sixth and Market streets displayed the stories of nine enslaved people owned by George Washington, the country’s first president.
But an executive order from President Trump forced the National Park Service to remove the panels that told those stories.
“It made me feel degraded that those things happened to our ancestors, but now you want to try and act like it really did not happen,” said Delaware County Council Chair Richard Womack, who called the removal an unlawful and unconscionable federal overreach.
“Therefore, we take the stance that it should be restored and put back in its proper place.”
Now Delaware, Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery counties are joining Philadelphia in its lawsuit against the Trump administration to have those panels reinstalled.
“I’m glad that the surrounding counties have taken this position to try and make sure that it’s being restored. It gives me a lot of confidence that we’re standing together,” said Womack.
The councilman said he believes these stories were taken down to keep visitors to the city for America 250, the FIFA World Cup and the MLB All Star Game from seeing and truly learning about the nation’s history.
“I think the reason the president had it removed is because he wants to downplay it, like it’s not that important,” he said, “but it’s very important.”