Pennsylvania Governor Joins Philadelphia's Lawsuit to Keep Slavery Memorial

Shapiro administration files amicus brief to prevent removal of exhibit recognizing Washington's ties to slavery

Jan. 27, 2026 at 9:07pm

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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has joined the city of Philadelphia in a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's removal of an exhibit at Independence National Historical Park that recognized President George Washington's history with slavery. Shapiro's administration filed an amicus brief arguing the exhibit's removal would be 'whitewashing history' and that the state has a strong interest in ensuring historical monuments accurately portray the commonwealth's past, including the history of slavery.

Why it matters

The dispute over the slavery exhibit is part of a broader debate over how to properly commemorate and contextualize America's complex history with slavery, especially as the country approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Shapiro's intervention signals Pennsylvania's commitment to acknowledging the state's own history with slavery and ensuring historical narratives are not selectively rewritten to glorify certain figures while erasing others.

The details

The National Park Service last week removed interpretive signage at the former site of the president's house on Independence Mall that included historical details about the nine people enslaved by Washington and Martha Washington while they lived there. Philadelphia's mayor filed a lawsuit claiming the exhibit's removal violated an agreement between the city and the Park Service requiring advance notice of changes to exhibits. In the amicus brief, Shapiro's administration argues the Trump administration is 'whitewashing history' by dismantling the exhibit, which was created over 20 years ago through a 'concerted, community-led effort' to ensure the full history at Independence Mall is faithfully told.

  • The National Park Service removed the slavery exhibit signage last week.
  • Philadelphia filed the lawsuit challenging the removal on Thursday, January 25, 2026.
  • Shapiro's administration filed the amicus brief on Tuesday, January 28, 2026.

The players

Josh Shapiro

The Governor of Pennsylvania who joined Philadelphia's lawsuit to prevent the removal of the slavery exhibit at Independence National Historical Park.

Cherelle Parker

The Mayor of Philadelphia who filed the lawsuit against the Trump administration over the removal of the slavery exhibit.

Doug Burgum

The Interior Secretary who ordered the removal of the slavery exhibit from Independence National Historical Park.

Donald Trump

The former President who signed an executive order directing the Interior Department to scrub monuments of 'descriptions, depictions, or other content that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.'

Jared Solomon

A Democratic state representative from Philadelphia who released a statement condemning the removal of the slavery memorial.

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What they’re saying

“Donald Trump will take any opportunity to rewrite and whitewash our history — but he picked the wrong city and the wrong Commonwealth. In Pennsylvania, we learn from our history, even when it's painful. We don't erase it or pretend it didn't happen.”

— Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

“This year, America celebrates its 250th birthday. It's time to confront our past, engage with our present, and chart a new course for our future. The American story cannot be told without the Black experience — each shapes and informs the other in an ongoing dialogue about what it truly means to be American.”

— Jared Solomon, Pennsylvania State Representative (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

What’s next

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will decide whether to grant an injunction to prevent the removal of the slavery exhibit while the lawsuit proceeds.

The takeaway

The dispute over the slavery memorial at Independence National Historical Park highlights the ongoing national debate over how to properly commemorate and contextualize America's complex history with slavery. Governor Shapiro's intervention signals Pennsylvania's commitment to ensuring historical narratives are not selectively rewritten to glorify certain figures while erasing others.