Court Hearing Begins Over Removal of Slavery Exhibit in Philly

City argues 75 years of collaboration with National Park Service went out the window without notice.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 5:47pm

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A federal court hearing began on January 30th as the city of Philadelphia laid out its case to have an exhibit examining slavery at the President's House restored to its original state before it was removed on January 22nd by the National Park Service. The city argued it had a long history of collaboration with the NPS, while the NPS claimed the agreement ended in 2010 and they have the right to select the views they want to express.

Why it matters

The removal of the slavery exhibit without notice has sparked outrage, with critics arguing it diminishes the truth and represents a return to selective history. The case highlights ongoing debates over how to accurately and fully represent America's history of slavery.

The details

During the hearing, city attorneys argued that 75 years of collaboration with the NPS went out the window without any notice when the exhibit was removed. Lawyers for the Department of the Interior claimed the city and NPS had an agreement in 2006 that ended in 2010, giving the NPS full ownership and the right to select the views it wants to express. The city believes an original 1950 agreement surrounding collaboration with the NPS supersedes this.

  • The federal court hearing began on January 30, 2026.
  • The slavery exhibit was removed by the National Park Service on January 22, 2026.
  • The city and NPS had an agreement in 2006 that the NPS claims ended in 2010.

The players

City of Philadelphia

The city of Philadelphia is arguing to have the slavery exhibit restored to its original state after it was removed by the National Park Service.

National Park Service

The federal agency that removed the slavery exhibit, claiming they have the right to select the views they want to express based on an agreement that ended in 2010.

Michael Coard

An attorney with the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition who expressed concern about the government's argument that the president can do "whatever damn well he pleases."

Everett Gillison

The former Chief of Staff for Mayor Michael Nutter, who argued that the removal of the exhibit diminishes the truth and represents a return to selective history.

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What they’re saying

“Seventy-five years of collaboration went out the window without any notice,”

— City attorneys (nbcphiladelphia.com)

“I'm really worried about the state of America if you send lawyers into a courtroom to make the argument the president can do whatever damn well he pleases, frightening concept,”

— Michael Coard, Attorney, Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (nbcphiladelphia.com)

“You're diminishing the truth. We can't go back to selective history. We got to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

— Everett Gillison, Former Chief of Staff for Mayor Michael Nutter (nbcphiladelphia.com)

What’s next

The judge overseeing the case said she plans to inspect the slavery panels and the site by Monday to help make a decision, which she wants to move fairly quickly on.

The takeaway

The removal of the slavery exhibit without notice has sparked outrage, with critics arguing it represents a return to selective history and diminishes the full truth about America's past. The case highlights the ongoing debates over how to accurately and fully represent the country's history of slavery.