Plan to Remove William Penn Statue Scrapped After Backlash
• The National Park Service proposed removing William Penn's statue from a historic Philadelphia site, but quickly withdrew the plan amid backlash • The statue removal wasn't a major priority for the Native American tribes the Park Service consulted about renovating the deteriorating plaza • Tribes mainly wanted exhibits highlighting their long history and culture on the land before Penn's arrival • Some tribes said Penn was an ally and his willingness to negotiate for lands set him apart from earlier colonizers • The Park Service remains committed to rehabilitating the site after considering options through a public process