Statement · June 19, 2026
Telling Our Story, Our Way
Statement from the Ona Judge Coalition on the Third Circuit Ruling Regarding Interpretation at the President’s House
The shameful story of George and Martha Washington’s use of Ona Judge and the eight other enslaved persons to serve them at the President’s House is not a footnote to soften or rewrite. This history, as told in the original 34 panels, was shaped through years of community advocacy and scholarship, and it cannot be simply reframed at the political whims of a federal agency. A court ruling alone does not determine historical truth. For over 250 years, African Americans have used our own resources and creativity to tell our story on our own terms in the face of efforts to sanitize and suppress it — and that struggle continues.
The Ona Judge Coalition was formed in January of this year with the specific objective of providing alternative methods, beyond litigation, of preserving and telling the truthful story of slavery at the President’s House. We have developed and are implementing several initiatives that reach a much broader audience than is possible from fixed panels at a single physical location.
Our Dialogue Initiative is our primary platform for community engagement, hosted at institutions including the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Belmont Mansion, Free Library of Philadelphia, Girard College, and the Philadelphia School District — including panel discussions, lectures, and the distribution of several thousand copies of Never Caught, the definitive biography of Ona Judge, to students in the public schools and Girard College. Our Visibility Initiative bridges the gap between the physical site and historical truth through an AR and GPS audio experience, walking tours, short-form videos, exhibits at AAMP, and an Ona Judge mural.
On this Juneteenth, and as the nation approaches its 250th Anniversary, we call on all allies to join us and help ensure that the story of Ona Judge and the eight other enslaved people is told to the widest possible audience.
Ona Judge’s legacy for all Americans is her audacity, resilience, and courage in claiming her freedom. We are Ona Judge.