An 1863 photograph entitled "Scourged Back," depicts an enslaved man named Peter with prominent whip scars. Per the Washington Post, the Department of Interior ordered this photo removed from at least one national park in 2025. McPherson and Oliver circa 1863
Related: National Parks Conservation Association Demands Truth: History of Slavery Cannot Be Erased From Our Parks as President Trump’s National Park Service Removes Photo
March 19, 2026 - BOSTON – On Wednesday, the National Parks Conservation and a broad coalition of scientists, historians, and advocates filed for a preliminary injunction to halt and reverse censorship in national parks across the country.
The case is National Parks Conservation Association et. al. v. Department of the Interior, et. al. Co-plaintiffs for this litigation include the Association of National Park Rangers, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, the American Association for State and Local History, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and the Society for Experiential Graphic Design. All plaintiffs are represented by Democracy Forward, a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education, and regulatory engagement.
The administration’s orders to censor history and science at parks violates the values and mission of the National Park Service, an agency known for its world-class historical interpretation and fascinating scientific discoveries. Millions of visitors from around the world come to national parks each year for authentic, honest experiences. Visitors deserve the full picture of history at America’s national parks, as well as key information about climate change, pollution, development, and other environmental threats to these iconic places.
Alan Spears, Senior Director for Cultural Resources at the National Parks Conservation Association, released the following statement on today’s motion:
“Rangers have spent their entire careers studying little-known chapters of American history and groundbreaking new scientific discoveries to create national park exhibits, brochures and videos to bring these stories to life, for millions of park visitors every year. These dedicated rangers are experts and beloved public servants. This administration is forcing the Park Service to distort the telling of accurate, inclusive, and truthful stories and silencing science in America’s beloved national parks. Hiding the truth about our past jeopardizes our future.”
“Our coalition today filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to halt the administration’s censorship campaign and require the Department of the Interior to restore all exhibits and resources it has removed so far. We are citizens of a nation with fascinating, diverse, and complex history. The National Park Service helps enhance our country’s understanding of our shared experiences. The American people deserve nothing less than the full truth at our national parks, and we will not stop fighting until they get it.”
About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.9 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.
Source: NPCA
