From Philly to Stonewall: Witnessing history, witnessing ‘democratic behavior’
The legal back-and-forth over the President’s House followed President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which aimed to reshape how history is presented at U.S. parks, museums and landmarks.
Christina Raymond, who studies government at Johns Hopkins University at the Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., was visiting Philadelphia on Thursday alongside her 9-year-old daughter, who is studying the American Revolution in school.
Considering the present moment in American history, Raymond said, “I think, unfortunately, what we are right now is an authoritarian system masquerading as a responsive democracy.”
Choking up, Raymond said, “We are here today to witness. This is democratic behavior.”
Earlier this week, LGBTQ+ rights advocates and historic preservationists similarly sued the Park Service for removing a Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in New York City.
Raymond said the collective pushback, from Stonewall to Philadelphia, gives her hope.
“This is the American people fighting back and saying we will not accept this,” she said. “Will not allow history to be rewritten.”
WHYY News’ Eric Nixon contributed reporting.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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