Court Orders US Parks to Restore Slavery and Climate Displays

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to reinstall displays on topics including slavery and climate change that were removed from parks and memorials across the country for failing to conform to the administration's "preferred narrative."

US District Court Judge Angel Kelley in Boston granted the preliminary injunction at the request of groups representing park preservationists, historians and scientists. She said the US Department of the Interior's actions under Trump had set a "dangerous precedent of censorship and embellishment of history."

The National Parks Conservation Association, the American Association for State and Local History and four other groups argued that the Interior Department was removing signs and displays in violation of congressional mandates governing the operation of 433 national park sites.

Kelley agreed, ruling that the government had removed dozens of signs at National Park Service-managed sites without authorization. The removed displays addressed climate change, civil rights and diverse communities.

Kelley, appointed by former President Joe Biden, ordered the plaques and displays to be restored within 21 days, "in time for the 250th anniversary, to appropriately honor the remarkable achievements of the United States."

The Interior Department called Kelley a "liberal activist judge" and said it was considering recusal options.

Trump's executive order had directed the Interior Department to make changes to parks, monuments and memorials to address what the White House described as "false revision of history" in recent years.

(reuters, luc)