U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick also voiced his disagreement with the decision to remove a slavery exhibit at Independence Park in Philadelphia.
Gov. Josh Shapiro vowed on Saturday to take legal action against the federal government for a decision to remove an exhibit on slavery at Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia.
“It is important that we do not allow them to succeed,” he said.
During his book launch of “Where We Keep the Light” at the Parkway Central Library in Philadelphia, Shapiro delivered pointed criticism at President Donald Trump’s administration for the Department of Interior’s actions on Thursday to remove the exhibit about the nine people enslaved by George Washington at the President’s House Site. He accused the federal government of attempting to divide people, while whitewashing the nation’s shared history.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, filed its lawsuit on Thursday and said that in 2006, the city and federal government signed a cooperative agreement that may require advance notice for changes to the site and added that the city is reviewing its options.
Shapiro said he is working closely with the Parker administration and will be filing an amicus brief to support them.
“We are exploring ways in which we can get those displays back up either on city or state owned property nearby,” Shapiro said.
Noting that the nation is celebrating its 250th birthday, Shapiro emphasized the importance for acknowledging history.
“How can we go forward if we don’t know our history,” Shapiro. “How can we go forward if we don’t remember where we came from?”
“Those signs aren’t just signs. It’s not just metal and ink,” he added. “What that is, is our shared history.”
ABC News reported on Friday that a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior said the move complies with Trump’s executive order in March 2025 to remove “divisive, race-centered ideology” and narratives from federal cultural institutions.
However, U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), an ally of Trump, also voiced his disagreement with removing the exhibit, while likening it to his opposition to the changing of names of some military bases.
“Our history is our history. It is our willingness to learn from it that makes America exceptional and the greatest country on Earth, on our journey to become a more perfect union,” McCormick wrote, in part, in a social media post on Saturday.
Shapiro expressed confidence that they will be successful in getting the display back up.
Shapiro says he’s prepared to protect the vote ahead of midterm elections
Shapiro said he “fully expects” Trump to “continue to try and undermine our elections,” ahead of the 2026 midterm, in response to a question submitted to the moderator by an audience member.
“We continue to have free and fair, safe and secure elections,” he said. “I will do everything in my power to stop anyone from taking away your vote in the midterms.”
Shapiro, who was elected governor in 2022, is seeking a second term in November. His likely opponent is Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who supports Trump.
He referenced his time as the state’s attorney general during the 2020 election when Trump sued the state 43 times in an effort to overturn the election, but was unsuccessful.
“Suffice to say we are on it. We are prepared,” Shapiro said. “We will do everything in our power to protect your vote. That is your power and we will protect it.”
Throughout the event, Shapiro delivered pointed criticism of Trump on a wide variety of matters, including his administration’s actions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Outside of the event, protesters gathered to call on Shapiro’s administration to not cooperate with ICE.
However, he also said Democrats have to do more than just fight against Trump, but have to make an effort to improve the lives of citizens. Shapiro touched on usual themes from his speeches about the importance of investing in education and public safety, while working across the aisle with Republicans, who hold a majority in the state Senate.
Recalling arson attack, Shapiro highlights power of prayer
For a sizable portion of the program, Shapiro, alongside Salem Baptist Church Pastor Marshall Mitchell, talked about how faith has shaped his life and career.
Shapiro said he was five months into writing the book when Cody Balmer, a Harrisburg man, firebombed the Governor’s Residence while his family and guests were sleeping after Passover.
He said the power of prayer from people of all walks of life lifted him and his family up in that difficult moment.
Shapiro also described growing up in a home that was structured around religion in Montgomery County, noting he attended a faith-based school, and celebrated shabbat dinner on Friday with his family. He said he and his wife, First Lady Lori Shapiro, raise their children to be connected to their faith.
Following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel by Hamas, Shapiro said he heard from those who were Jewish who were scared and said he felt a responsibility to be more open about this faith, as antisemitism and other forms of bigotry were on the rise.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who is mentioned in the book, considered Shapiro as her running mate in 2024 and reportedly asked if the governor had ever been an agent of Israel. CNN reports Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who Harris selected to run as vice president, was also asked if he had ever been an agent of China. Shapiro did not mention her during the event.
Multiple elected officials were in attendance, including U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia), state Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia), multiple members of the state House, and a representative from Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s office.
State Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) was spotted outside at the immigration protest.
2028 on the horizon
As Shapiro seeks a second term as governor, he is being mentioned as a potential candidate for the White House in 2028.
Mitchell, who served as the moderator, ended the event by noting that Shapiro often talks about basketball in the book and referenced an analogy about how the governor wants the ball in his hand so he can take the shot.
“There’s a lot of people in this room and a lot of people who are listening who are counting on you taking your shot,” Mitchell said. “Now and in the not-so-distant future.”
The next stops along the book tour for Shapiro include New York on Tuesday, Boston on Wednesday, and Washington D.C on Thursday.
