Position Statement: Orders to Censor History at Harpers Ferry National Park

In March, the Trump administration released the “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” executive order. The order called for the removal of information at National Park Service locations that could “improperly minimize or disparage certain historical figures or events.” Now, news outlets report that parks including Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the site of significant historical events like John Brown’s Raid for Freedom, have been ordered to remove historical content related to slavery. The Jefferson County Democratic Association condemns any such action. Content covering enslavement is not “corrosive ideology”, as Trump falsely claims. It is the hard truth of American history, from which we can only heal through acknowledgement, education and civil discourse. We encourage our community to continue these challenging conversations and implore the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park superintendent to maintain these exhibits so critical to understanding the cause and the conclusion of the Civil War.

Troy Miller