A federal judge has criticised Justice Department lawyers for arguing that the Trump administration has the right to decide which parts of American history are displayed at National Park Service sites, calling their statements “dangerous” and “horrifying”. The rebuke came during a hearing in Philadelphia over the removal of an exhibit on slavery at the President’s House site on Independence Mall.
The exhibit, which told the stories of nine people enslaved by George and Martha Washington, was abruptly taken down this month by workers using crowbars. The city of Philadelphia, which had contributed $1.5 million to the project, was caught off guard. The removal followed an executive order by President Donald Trump aimed at “restoring truth and sanity to American history”.
Senior US District Judge Cynthia Rufe, an appointee of George W. Bush, expressed alarm at the government’s position. “You can’t erase history once you’ve learned it. It doesn’t work that way,” she said. When Assistant US Attorney Gregory in den Berken argued that “the government gets to choose the message it wants to convey”, Rufe responded: “That is a dangerous statement you are making. It is horrifying to listen to.”
The judge voiced concerns about whether the removed materials, now in storage, had been damaged. She plans to visit both the storage area and the site before ruling on the city’s request to restore the exhibit. She also instructed Justice Department lawyers to ensure nothing else is disturbed.
Michael Coard, an attorney for an advocacy group supporting the exhibit, described the government’s argument as “absolutely frightening” and “dictatorial”. Rufe said she would rule quickly, noting the expected surge of visitors for the nation’s 250th anniversary. Residents have left flowers and a handmade sign reading “Slavery was real” at the site.
