Third Circuit denies rehearing in Philadelphia's fight over President's House slavery exhibit
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has denied Philadelphia's request for a rehearing in its ongoing legal battle with the federal government over the removal of slavery-related exhibits at the President's House site.
The denial marks another setback for the city's effort to have the exhibits restored. The appeals court previously ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to review most of the actions taken by the National Park Service, leading to the dismissal of counts 2-5 of Philadelphia's lawsuit.
The city filed suit after the Trump administration directed the National Park Service to remove panels on Jan. 22 that detailed the stories of nine people enslaved at the President's House.
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Philadelphia initially secured a court victory when a judge ordered the panels reinstalled. However, after further legal proceedings, the original panels were replaced with new exhibits currently displayed at the site that do not reference slavery.
Peggy Compton, a volunteer with Old City Remembers, said she believes the current exhibit presents an incomplete interpretation of the site's history.
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"There is nothing historically inaccurate of what is up here. There is nothing wrong with what they've done. It's just muting that internal tension so fundamental to the opening of the United States," Compton said.
Compton read the contents of the removed panels aloud for visitors and said she was disappointed by the court's decision to deny a rehearing. She said she plans to continue sharing the information contained in the former exhibit.
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"I'd prefer not to see a showdown if we didn't have to; I'd prefer to see a change in the administration, where we are more willing to look at both sides of the issue," Compton said.
If Philadelphia chooses to continue the legal fight, the city would need to petition the U.S. Supreme Court.
One count of the city's lawsuit remains pending, alleging that the National Park Service breached agreements with Philadelphia. Other lawsuits related to the dispute have also been filed by other groups.
