We were very moved by Historic Northampton’s current exhibit entitled Slavery and Freedom in Northampton, 1654 – 1783. The exhibit features life-sized silhouettes of some of the 50 men, women, and children who were enslaved in Northampton. Each silhouette features details about these individuals lives gleaned from historic documents.

This exhibit calls to mind President Donald Trump’s recent order dismantling the slavery exhibit at the President’s House Site on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, depicting the lives of nine people enslaved by George Washington while he lived in Philadelphia as president. The city of Philadelphia sued the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service, and a judge ordered that the exhibit be restored. U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe, a President George W. Bush appointee, compared the administration’s rationale for removing the exhibit to the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell’s “1984.” Trump, of course, is appealing this decision.

We are deeply disturbed at President Trump’s ongoing efforts to rewrite American history and whitewash references to the enslaved and the enslavers in our country’s past. George Orwell chillingly wrote in 1984 “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”

In these Orwellian times, if Trump had his way, Historic Northampton’s current exhibit would be dismantled. Truth be told, if Trump had his way the exhibit would never have been allowed to be displayed in the first place.

The attempts by the current administration to rewrite our country’s history will continue, and we must continue to resist these and other attempts to erode so many of our rights.

The next “No Kings Day” protests are on March 28 in many locations throughout the valley. Research has shown that sustained protests of just 3.5% of the population of a country are effective at bringing about political change. Nationwide, we need 12 million people to take part and make their voices heard. We hope you will join a No Kings protest on the 28th, and we highly recommend the exhibit at Historic Northampton’s main gallery at 46 Bridge St. in Northampton.

Morey Phippen and Brian Adams

Northampton