Philadelphia Sues National Park Service Over Removal of Slavery Memorial at President’s House Site
the city of Philadelphia has filed a lawsuit against the National Park Service (NPS) and the Department of the Interior over the recent removal of interpretive panels detailing the enslaved individuals who lived and worked at the President’s House site in Independence National Ancient Park. The lawsuit alleges the removal violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) of 1946 by failing to provide public notice and an opportunity for comment before making the changes.
The memorial, which included the names of nine enslaved people who resided at the site during George Washington’s presidency, was taken down in January 2024. The NPS stated the panels were removed for preservation and to allow for a redesign of the exhibit, aiming for a more complete interpretation of the site’s history. Though, the city argues the removal was done without proper consultation, violating a 2006 cooperative agreement between Philadelphia and the federal government.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker addressed the lawsuit during a press conference on Friday, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the existing agreement. “let me affirm for the residents of the city of Philadelphia that there is a cooperative agreement between the city and the federal government that dates back to 2006. That agreement requires parties to meet and confer if there are to be any changes made to an exhibit,” parker stated. She added that her office would continue to update the public on the legal proceedings.
The lawsuit seeks a court order to restore the original slavery memorial, a preliminary injunction to prevent further alterations to the president’s House exhibit, and a permanent injunction blocking future changes without proper public input.
The NPS has not yet publicly responded to the lawsuit.
Sources:
* https://6abc.com/philadelphia-sues-national-park-service-presidents-house-slavery-memorial/14619991/