Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson (Second District) released the following statement today:
“As the nation celebrates the Juneteenth holiday. I am deeply disappointed by the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision allowing the removal and replacement of the President’s House slavery exhibit on Independence Mall.
“The President’s House site represents a critical chapter in our nation’s history. It tells both the story not only of the early presidency of George Washington, and also of the enslaved Africans who lived and labored at the site while our country’s founding ideals of freedom and democracy were taking shape. Preserving and presenting that history accurately and completely is essential to understanding both our nation’s achievements and its contradictions. African American history is American history.
“Philadelphia remains committed to elevating the stories of those whose experiences have too often been overlooked. I will continue working with community leaders, historians, educators, and preservation advocates to ensure that the history of slavery and the contributions of African Americans remain central to the interpretation of our shared national heritage.
“At a time when communities across the country are seeking a deeper understanding of our past, we must not retreat from telling the complete story of who we are as a nation. We owe that commitment to our past, and to future generations.”
###
