Judge orders restoration of Philadelphia slavery exhib

The Hill - A federal judge ordered the National Park Service to restore exhibits about slaves who lived at the nation’s one-time executive mansion in Philadelphia, agreeing with the city that the Trump administration likely unlawfully removed the displays. 

U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe invoked the dystopian novel “1984” as she blocked the Trump administration from changing or damaging the site, which is now an outdoor exhibition.

“As if the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell’s 1984 now existed, with its motto ‘Ignorance is Strength,’ this Court is now asked to determine whether the federal government has the power it claims—to dissemble and disassemble historical truths when it has some domain over historical facts. It does not,” Rufe wrote. 

Rufe is an appointee of former President George W. Bush. 

Philadelphia entered an agreement with the federal government in 2006 to develop President’s House, the home and working space for George Washington and John Adams when they were commanders in chief. It’s now an open-air pavilion part of Independence National Historical Park and contains exhibits about Washington’s slaves who lived there.

Last month, Philadelphia sued the Interior Department and the park service after it removed the slavery references. The city said the changes were in response to an executive order Trump signed last year directing the removal of content that “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.” 

The judge on Monday ruled the Trump administration had disregarded its agreement with the city and requirements imposed by Congress. Te ruling also invoked the Declaration of Independence, which was signed at the park.