The tribes wanted to promote their history. Removing William Penn’s statue wasn’t a priority
The National Park Service has briefly proposed and then withdrawn a plan to remove a statue of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, from a historical site in Philadelphia. The proposal was withdrawn due to backlash and wasn’t a priority for the Native American tribes the agency consulted during the renovation plan for the deteriorating plaza. Instead of removing the statue, the tribes envision an exhibit that would highlight their culture and history. The park service consulted various tribes such as the Haudenosaunee and Delaware Tribe of Indians as required by the National Historic Preservation Act. Still, officials from the Delaware and Shawnee Tribes said there weren’t any discussions about removing the statue. The incident has reignited debates about the nation’s history through its monuments.
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