PHILADELPHIA – Governor Josh Shapiro has formally backed the City of Philadelphia\u2019s lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration\u2019s removal of a slavery exhibit from the President\u2019s House Site at Independence National Historical Park, according to a press release.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Governor Shapiro files legal brief in support of Philadelphia\u00a0 <\/p>\n
What we know:<\/p>\n
Governor Shapiro filed an amicus brief Tuesday, Jan. 27, supporting Philadelphia\u2019s legal challenge to the removal of a long-standing exhibit on slavery at the President\u2019s House Site.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The exhibit, which had been in place for more than 20 years, detailed the lives of nine people enslaved by George Washington while he lived in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
The City of Philadelphia\u2019s lawsuit claims the federal government violated a cooperative agreement that requires the city\u2019s involvement before any changes to the site\u2019s exhibits.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Donald Trump will take any opportunity to rewrite and whitewash our history \u2014 but he picked the wrong city and the wrong Commonwealth,” said Governor Shapiro.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“In Pennsylvania, we learn from our history, even when it\u2019s painful. We don\u2019t erase it or pretend it didn\u2019t happen. Because when we know where we\u2019ve been, we can chart a better course for the future. Those displays aren\u2019t just signs \u2014 they represent our shared history, and if we want to move forward as a nation, we have to be willing to tell the full story of where we came from,” said Shapiro.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Governor\u2019s office says the federal action bypassed local government and undermined efforts to preserve an accurate and inclusive account of the nation\u2019s founding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Philadelphia\u2019s mayor and city officials respond\u00a0 <\/p>\n