PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Hundreds of people gathered at the Presidents House on Independence Mall this week, urging federal officials to restore panels that told the stories of nine enslaved people held by President George Washington.
The rally came amid an ongoing court battle over the Trump administration’s removal of the interpretive signs.
Speakers from community groups, city leadership and regional supporters called for the full history of the site to be reinstated.
“Are we gonna go backwards? No, we are not! Are we going to erase our history? No, we are not,” said Kathy Hicks, president of the Philadelphia NAACP.
The event was organized by Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, the same group that previously fought to ensure the stories of enslaved people were included at the historic site at 6th and Market streets.
“History is history you can’t change the truth,” said Kay Still Scott of Camden. Miguel Johnson of the coalition added, “Just looking at all the people here today I see the real America.”
The city of Philadelphia has filed a lawsuit seeking to restore the panels, and several city council members attended the rally to show support.
“Black history is American history. African American history is American history,” said City Council President Kenyatta Johnson.
Support also came from unexpected corners, including attorney George Bochetto, who has represented groups supporting the Christopher Columbus statue in South Philadelphia.
“I think the same people who were protecting the Christopher Columbus monument are protecting this… We have to protect the history,” he said.
As the legal fight continues, demonstrators vowed to keep pressing for the site’s full story to be told.
“Our history cannot be erased,” said Yvonne Studevan, a descendant of Bishop Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Neighboring counties – Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware – have filed motions seeking to join the case as well.
Philadelphia submitted an amended complaint last week in its lawsuit. The Department of the Interior has until Friday to respond.
The agency did not respond to a request for comment.
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