Thousands Rally to Defend National Museum of African American History Amid Political Threats

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: Getty Image

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Washington, D.C., on May 3 in a powerful show of solidarity with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, responding to what civil rights leaders are calling a direct threat to Black history under the Trump administration.

The #HandsOffOurHistory rally began on the steps of City Hall and culminated in a spirited march to the Smithsonian-affiliated museum on the National Mall. The event was sparked by President Donald Trump’s recent executive order titled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, which critics argue attempts to suppress race-centered narratives and undermine institutions that document America’s diverse past.

Trump’s order specifically criticized the Smithsonian Institution and its museums for being influenced by what he described as a "divisive, race-centered ideology," pledging to restore the museums as symbols of “American greatness.”

In response, a coalition of faith leaders, civil rights advocates, students, and members of historically Black Greek-letter organizations came together in protest, chanting “Hands off our history” and carrying signs bearing messages like “History should be taught, not erased” and “I take my history Black.”

“We will not be erased,” declared Melanie Campbell, president of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. “This is an assault on our very existence.”

Speakers throughout the day emphasized the broader implications of the executive order and similar policies at the state level such as those in Florida that restrict the teaching of Black history and ban books about the Black experience. They called on communities to remain vigilant and engaged.

“This administration is withholding funding left and right to anything that has to do with Black people, Indigenous people, Latino people,” said Nicole Williams of Greenbelt, Maryland, a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. “We’re not going to take this lying down. We’re not going to take this quietly.”

Williams, who addressed the rally earlier, said preserving access to authentic history is a responsibility for everyone. “If we don’t know our history, we’re doomed to repeat it.”

Lenny Smith of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, echoed the concern, emphasizing that future generations must not lose sight of African American achievements and struggles. “There’s too much at stake,” she said.

The event was organized in part by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), whose president, Karsonya Wise Whitehead, emphasized that the effort is ongoing. “It’s not just a moment,” she said. “It’s a movement.”

Organizers plan to launch additional initiatives, including a nationwide social media campaign, to push back against efforts to erase or diminish the significance of Black history in America.

As the crowd reached the museum affectionately known by many as the "Blacksonian" the rally transformed into a celebration of cultural resilience and unity, reinforcing the museum's role as a cornerstone of American history.