1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong concern and disappointment about the National Park Service’s recent removal of the slavery exhibits at the President’s House site in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia on January 22, 2026. These exhibits, which had stood since 2010 and honored the lives of the nine people enslaved there by George Washington, provided essential historical context about the contradiction between American ideals of freedom and the reality of slavery. The removal followed a directive from the Trump administration to review and take down interpretive materials in national parks that are deemed to “inappropriately disparage” the United States. The City of Philadelphia has since filed a lawsuit challenging this action. Erasing or hiding this history is deeply wrong. It diminishes the experiences of those who were enslaved, undermines honest public education, and weakens our collective ability to learn from the full truth of America’s past. These stories are not burdensome footnotes; they are foundational to understanding how our nation was built and how its legacy continues to shape us. I urge you to take action to support the restoration of these slavery exhibits at the President’s House site, to oppose efforts that whitewash history, and to ensure that our national parks reflect all aspects of American history, especially those that are painful and necessary to remember. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.