Philadelphia grapples with removal of slavery exhibit at President’s House, spurring protests and a lawsuit

The National Park Service dismantled the six-panel exhibit “Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation” at the President’s House site near Independence Hall after a White House order to remove displays deemed “disparaging”; Philadelphia residents protested, and the city quickly filed a federal lawsuit against the Interior Department and Park Service. Advocates noted the exhibit was funded locally and called for its return, while city officials point to a cooperative agreement that requires consultation before changes. The event highlights ongoing debates over how America’s founding-era history is presented to the public.