US Edition
Judge invokes George Orwell’s ‘1984’ in ordering restoration of Philadelphia slavery exhibit
Judge Cynthia M. Rufe ruled the Trump administration violated a 2006 agreement by removing slavery exhibits, ordering their restoration and protection at a historic Philadelphia site.
- On Monday, U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe issued a 40-page ruling and preliminary injunction ordering restoration of the President's House site and barring further changes.
- On Monday, the City of Philadelphia sued the NPS, Jessica Bowron, and Doug Burgum over the removal of slavery exhibits following President Donald Trump's order on January 22, 2026.
- The exhibit included 34 explanatory panels and footprints memorializing Ona Judge, with her saying, `I had friends among the colored people of Philadelphia, had my things carried there beforehand, and left Washington's house while they were eating dinner.`
- Rufe found federal agencies exceeded their authority and ruled Philadelphia is likely to prevail, ordering mitigation to protect stored panels and exhibits while ensuring site security.
- Activists and officials tied the judge's order to a broader pattern of federal actions, including the removal of the Philadelphia slavery exhibit and restoration of Confederate monuments, amid the upcoming 250th anniversary.
61 Articles
61 Articles
The Trump administration removed a slavery exhibit. A judge ordered it restored.
A federal judge in Pennsylvania on Monday ordered the Trump administration to restore displays discussing slavery at a site in Philadelphia where George Washington lived as president. In a 40-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania compared the displays’ removal last month to the government mind-control employed in George Orwell’s famous novel “1984.” “The government claims it alone has the power…
Judge orders Trump administration to restore slavery exhibits to presidential home site
A judge sided with the city of Philadelphia in its lawsuit to restore slavery exhibits that were removed in January to a presidential home site.President Donald Trump issued an executive order in March 2025 titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" which led to some exhibits at national monuments being taken down.'We encourage the City of Philadelphia to focus on getting their jobless rates down and ending their reckless cashless b…
Citing Orwell’s ‘1984,’ judge orders Trump administration to return slavery exhibits removed from Philadelphia museum
A federal judge, evoking the dystopian world of George Orwell’s novel “1984,” ordered the Trump administration on Monday to return a long-standing exhibit on slavery it removed from a popular historical museum in Philadelphia.
Associated Press News
Trump administration ordered to restore George Washington slavery exhibit it removed in Philadelphia
A federal judge has ordered an exhibit about nine people enslaved by George Washington to be restored at his former home in Philadelphia after President Donald Trump’s administration took it down last month.
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