Rally calls for restoration of enslaved people’s history at Presidents House

Hundreds of people rallied at the President's House on Independence Mall this afternoon. The image is coming in. They're calling for the restoration of the slavery exhibit at that site. That exhibit, which told the stories of the enslaved people who lived and worked here, was torn down by the Trump administration. Action News reporter Tarana Thomas live for us now at Independence Mall with more. Tarana, you've been following this story and people are not losing sight of what they're after. No, as a matter of fact, the fight is growing. Hundreds of people were here. The rally just wrapped up and it was so big that it shut down Market Street. Those hundreds of people were demanding that the stories of the enslaved people kept at this house be restored. Are we going to go backwards? No, we are not. Are we going to erase our history? No, we are not. A refusal to leave history in the past. That's the mission behind this rally at the President's House. The historic site at 6th and Market at the center of a court battle after the Trump administration removed panels telling the stories of the nine enslaved people kept by President George Washington. History is history. You can't change the truth. Standing here, I'm reminded, just looking at all the people out here today, I see the true America. Avenging the Ancestors Coalition held the rally. That same organization fought to have the story of slavery told at the site. The city of Philadelphia has filed a lawsuit. City council members showed up at the rally to show their support for restoring the site. Black history is American history. African American history is American history. Also showing support, the attorney representing groups that supported the Christopher Columbus statue in South Philadelphia. I think the same people that were supporting the Columbus effort are also supporting the President's House effort. We have to protect this monument. We have to protect the history. As the issue plays out in court, protest plays out on the street determined to restore history. Our history should not be erased. Now efforts to support the President's House and restore the President's House are also getting support from neighboring counties. We saw Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties file motions in this case this morning too. The city of Philadelphia has filed its lawsuit and it did file an amended complaint last week. The Department of the Interior has until Friday to respond to that complaint. Now I did reach out to the Department of the Interior. So far they have not responded to my request for comment. On Independence Mall, Toronto Thomas, Channel 6 Action News. Toronto, thank you for that report.