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Avenging Ancestors Coalition responds to panel replacements at President's House
The Trump Administration has moved forward with plans to replace panels at the Presidents House near Independence Hall that documented the lives of slaves who lived in the house with George and Martha Washington.
PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker rebuked the federal government's decision to remove slavery panels at the President's House overnight Tuesday and vowed to continue to fight to ensure "all of our history must be told."
What we know:
Mayor Parker said the federal government was allowed to remove the panels at the President's House following a court ruling.
In a statement, Parker said the decision to remove the panels at night shows the federal government "understands this action is shameful" and that it "violates community trust."
Judge dismisses 4 out of 5 claims in Philadelphia’s President’s House dispute
On July 13, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania dismissed Counts II through V of the City of Philadelphia’s Amended Complaint against federal defendants for lack of jurisdiction, following the Third Circuit’s mandate and denial of the City’s opposition to immediate issuance of the mandate.
The President's House is just outside of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in Old City, Philadelphia. The educational panels installed in 2010 told the story of how nine slaves lived in the house with George and Martha Washington in the 1790s.
Their removal stemmed from Trump’s 2025 executive order calling for federally owned or controlled historic sites not to display information to "disparage Americans past or living" and to focus on the "greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people."
What they're saying:
Mayor Parker on Wednesday vowed to continue the fight to replace the panels.
The City intends to seek a rehearing on legal issues raised by the Third Circuit panel’s June 18, 2026, decision, which rejected the City’s claims but raised questions about the reviewability of agency conduct and the limits of federal agency power.
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Court says President's House slavery panels in Philly can be replaced
A federal appeals court ruled Thursday, June 18, that the Trump administration can replace panels at the President’s House exhibit in Philadelphia, according to the court’s unanimous decision. The panels, which depict the story of nine people enslaved at the site by President Washington, have been at the center of months of debate and national attention.
"We celebrated the fact that 250 years ago imperfect humans came together to recognize the universal search for freedom and for dignity, while at the same time these same leaders perpetuated the heinous institution of slavery," Parker wrote. "This paradox reveals core questions we still live and struggle with today – how do we share power for the betterment of all people?"
Parker said she will continue fighting "on behalf of everyone who supports the core belief: All of our history must be told."
What we don't know:
It is not yet clear when or if the removed panels will be restored, or how the federal government will respond to the City’s planned legal action.