PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal choose warned Justice Department attorneys on Friday that they had been making “dangerous” and “horrifying” statements once they mentioned the Trump Administration can determine what a part of American historical past to show at National Park Service websites.
The sharp alternate erupted throughout a listening to in Philadelphia over the abrupt removing of an exhibit on the historical past of slavery on the website of the previous President’s House on Independence Mall.
The metropolis, which labored in tandem with the park service on the exhibit 20 years in the past, was surprised to seek out employees this month utilizing crowbars to take away out of doors plaques, panels and different supplies that advised the tales of the 9 individuals who had been enslaved there. Some of the historical past had solely been unearthed previously quarter-century.
“You can’t erase history once you’ve learned it. It doesn’t work that way,” mentioned Senior U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe, an appointee of President George W. Bush.
The removing adopted President Donald Trump’s government order “restoring truth and sanity to American history” on the nation’s museums, parks and landmarks. In Philadelphia, the supplies had been put in a pickup truck after which into storage, main Rufe to voice considerations about whether or not they had been broken.
“Although many people feel strongly about this (exhibit) one way, other people may disagree or feel strongly another way,” mentioned Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory in den Berken.
“Ultimately,” he mentioned, “the government gets to choose the message it wants to convey.”
Rufe swiftly reduce him off.
“That is a dangerous statement you are making. It is horrifying to listen to,” she mentioned. “It changes on the whims of someone in charge? I’m sorry, that is not what we elected anybody for.”
Rufe heard hours of testimony Friday from former metropolis officers who had helped plan the exhibit, and mentioned the town had kicked in $1.5 million towards the undertaking. She plans to go to each the storage space and the positioning earlier than ruling on the town’s request to have the exhibit restored. But she requested the Justice Department attorneys to make sure that nothing else is disturbed.
In den Berken mentioned the Park Service routinely modifications its displays and excursions, and argued that the federal government can’t be pressured to inform a sure story. But attorneys for the town and different advocates mentioned the park service doesn’t have “carte blanche” to interpret the nation’s historical past because it sees match.
The exhibit contains biographical particulars in regards to the 9 folks enslaved by George and Martha Washington on the presidential mansion. Now, solely their names — Austin, Paris, Hercules, Christopher Sheels, Richmond, Giles, Oney Judge, Moll and Joe — stay engraved right into a cement wall.
Michael Coard, an legal professional representing one of many advocacy teams supporting the exhibit, mentioned the president was ignoring the ability held by Congress, the judiciary and the American folks.
“It’s one thing to whisper that type of dictatorial power. But to send lawyers into a public courtroom to make that argument is absolutely frightening,” he mentioned. “I’m really worried about the state of America.”
Rufe mentioned she deliberate to rule rapidly, noting the surge of holiday makers anticipated to go to the nation’s birthplace this yr to mark its 250th anniversary of being based.
Residents who’ve visited the positioning have shed tears, left flowers and left a hand-crafted signal that mentioned “Slavery was real.”
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/judge-calls-dojs-slavery-exhibit-comments-dangerous_n_697d3eb1e4b0b1de95c1c9e5