19/09/2025
During City Council on Thursday, Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson introduced a resolution condemning President Donald Trump’s effort to remove slavery references from the President's House exhibit that honors former President George Washington’s nine slaves.
The resolution comes in response to the White House's effort to downplay the role of slavery in American history. The site is at 6th and Market streets near the exhibit for the Liberty Bell.
The resolution mentions the work of the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition in trying to prevent the "attempting to erase Black history from the national narrative,” as the resolution states in part.
Speaking to reporters after Thursday’s session, Council President Kenyatta Johnson said there was no specific response the city could offer if Trump directs the National Park Service to conceal or remove the references. He was keeping options on the table.
"We will continue to have discussions in the event that it does happen, how to rectify the situation, keep the exhibit going, everything is in discussion," Johnson said. "The purpose of the resolution (introduced on his behalf per Council rules) is to make sure we're bringing attention to a very, very unjust situation."
During City Council on Thursday, Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson introduced a resolution condemning President Donald Trump’s effort to remove slavery references from the President's House exhibit that honors former
