From her footprints in Philadelphia to her image in New Hampshire, advocates on Thursday marked the 230th anniversary of Ona Judge’s escape from enslavement by George Washington, using rallies and new memorial projects to keep her story in public view.
Judge, who was born into slavery on Washington’s plantation, was 22 when she slipped away from the president’s official residence in Philadelphia on May 21, 1796, according to the account. She hid on a boat that carried her to New Hampshire, where she later married and had three children.
In Philadelphia, May 21 has been officially declared Ona Judge Day, and advocates held a rally Thursday at the President’s House site. Participants chanted “Tell the truth! Restore our history!” after hearing from people working to restore exhibits about Judge and other enslaved people connected to the location.
The push comes amid conflict over what should be displayed on federal property. The panels were abruptly removed in January following an executive order from President Donald Trump, the report said, and some exhibits were restored after a judge’s order, though the work has been halted while the administration appeals.
City Council member Cindy Bass spoke at the rally and called for ensuring Judge’s legacy is remembered, saying, “We remember her courage, her passion, her determination, that we make sure that in no way, shape or form she is ever forgotten,” and adding, “Each one, teach one. Everyone, tell someone.”
Dawn Chavous, a volunteer for the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, also urged broader recognition of the contributions of the enslaved and those whose histories, she said, have been erased. Chavous said, “You can’t love America without knowing the good, the bad and the ugly,” and added, “Slavery was part of our American story, and that is not something that we should hide or run away from.”
In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, advocates said a mural depicting Judge is being unveiled Saturday on the side of a building owned by the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. The organization said it has featured Judge’s story for years through tours and other educational programs, and framed the mural as a way to make the quest for freedom “visible, permanent, and undeniable.”
As the anniversary events continue in both states, the memorials and public programming underscore the role advocates see for historically grounded education—especially when disputes over exhibits and interpretation remain active.