Judge tells US National Park Service to reinstall Philadelphia slavery exhibit

A U.S. federal judge in Pennsylvania ordered the National Park Service on Monday to reinstall a slavery exhibit at a Philadelphia historic site, pending the outcome of litigation after the city sued the government over its removal.



The exhibit was dismantled and removed last month in response to President Donald Trump's claims, rejected by civil rights groups, of an "anti-American ideology" at historical and cultural institutions.



"The government claims it alone has the power to erase, alter, remove and hide historical accounts on taxpayer and local government-funded monuments within its control," U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe wrote in her opinion.



"Its claims in this regard echo Big Brother's domain in Orwell's '1984,'" Rufe added, referring to the dystopian novel by George Orwell.



The National Park Service and Philadelphia did not respond to requests for comment.



Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who backed the lawsuit, welcomed Monday's order.