From Philadelphia to Portsmouth, advocates marked the 230th anniversary of Ona Judge’s escape from slavery on May 21, 1796, underscoring her place in the nation’s founding-era story and pressing to keep related exhibits on display.

Judge was born into slavery on George Washington’s plantation and was 22 when she slipped away from Washington’s official residence in Philadelphia. Advocates say she hid on a boat that carried her to New Hampshire, where she later married and had three children.

In Philadelphia, organizers and elected officials celebrated May 21 as “Ona Judge Day,” holding a Thursday rally at the President’s House site. Participants chanted “Tell the truth! Restore our history!” as speakers described efforts to preserve and expand exhibits about Judge and other people enslaved at the site.

The renewed push for remembrance comes after panels were removed in January following an executive order from President Donald Trump. The executive order directed officials to remove information they deemed “disparaging” to Americans from federal properties, according to the Associated Press report.

Some panels were restored after a judge’s order, but the exhibit work has since been paused as the administration appeals. A panel featuring Judge was among those that have been rehung, and organizers said the broader effort to keep historical material in place remains in limbo.

Cindy Bass, a member of the Philadelphia City Council, told the rally that her message was to ensure Judge is not forgotten. “We remember her courage, her passion, her determination, that we make sure that in no way, shape or form she is ever forgotten,” Bass said. “Each one, teach one. Everyone, tell someone.”

Dawn Chavous, a volunteer for the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, said organizers must acknowledge the contributions of all people who shaped the country, including enslaved people whose roles are often minimized in public narratives. “You can’t love America without knowing the good, the bad and the ugly,” Chavous said. “Slavery was part of our American story, and that is not something that we should hide or run away from.”

As Philadelphia’s events continued, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, prepared for a separate unveiling. The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire said it will unveil a mural depicting Judge on Saturday, painted on the side of a building the group owns.

In announcing the mural project, the organization said New Hampshire was choosing to make “the quest for freedom visible, permanent, and undeniable” at a time when it described stories of struggle and freedom as being erased. It also said the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire has featured Judge’s story for years through tours and other educational programming.