WHEREAS, Black history is an essential and inseparable part of American history; and
WHEREAS, President Donald Trump has repeatedly taken actions to dismantle decades of efforts to promote equity and historical truth, including his Executive Orders ending DEI initiatives, restricting gender affirming healthcare, and eroding fundamental civil rights protections; and
WHEREAS, President Trump recently issued an order directing the removal of factual materials now labeled as “corrosive ideology” that criticizes historic American figures, a directive that has been interpreted to include the elimination of slavery related content from national parks; and
WHEREAS, This action will directly impact Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, which features an exhibit honoring the nine individuals enslaved by President George Washington; and
WHEREAS, Independence National Historical Park’s exhibit was developed through the tireless advocacy of the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition; and
WHEREAS, The Avenging the Ancestors Coalition was founded by Mr. Michaeel Coard, Esquire, and is a broad based organization of African American historians, attorneys, concerned citizens, elected officials, religious leaders, media personalities, community activists, and registered voters committed to ensuring the contributions of African Americans to American society don’t get ignored; and
WHEREAS, The inclusion of this history at national sites ensures a fuller, more honest narrative of our nation, and acknowledges the contributions and sacrifices of African Americans whose stories have often been ignored or erased; and
WHEREAS, The removal of such content not only dishonors those whose stories are told, but undermines the nation’s ongoing efforts to reckon with it’s past to foster an inclusive and more just future; and
WHEREAS, This legislative body is committed to preserving and amplifying the voices and histories of its diverse communities, and stands firmly against efforts to suppress and erase part of our shared history; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby condemns
President Donald Trump’s recent efforts to whitewash, suppress, and rewrite American history by removing slavery related content from national parks including an exhibit at Independence National Historical Park honoring the nine individuals enslaved by President George Washinton, developed by the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition thereby attempting to erase Black history from the national narrative.
End