Bucks Lawmaker Condemns Plans To Remove Penn Statue In Philly

HARRISBURG, PA — State Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks) said he will co-sponsor a resolution with House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) condemning a proposal to remove a statue of William Penn from Welcome Park in Philadelphia during its upcoming renovation.

Staats urged those opposed to the proposal to make their feelings known to the National Park Service.

“This is another outrageous example of the ‘woke’ movement’s determination to erase our history,” Staats said. “They are now targeting the man whose legacy includes a commitment to peace and coexistence.”

Staats noted that as the founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn created fair deals and treaties with Native Americans that led to a period of coexistence and respect for indigenous rights. Penn’s commitment to the Quaker principle of pacifism led to a lasting peace between Native Americans and settlers in Pennsylvania, he said.

The National Park Service announced Friday it would remove the statue as part of the rehabilitation of Welcome Park, located on the site of William Penn’s home, the Slate Roof House, and is named for the ship, Welcome, which transported Penn to Philadelphia.

The public is invited to submit comments on this proposed design for the rehabilitation of Welcome Park for a 14-day period, Jan. 8-21, through the National Park Service’s Planning, Environment and Public Comment website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov. Comments submitted through social media, phone calls, email or mail will not be accepted.

“I encourage everyone who cares about Pennsylvania’s history and William Penn’s legacy to contact the park service through their website,” Staats said. “If enough of us speak out, we can stop this outrage.”

The public is invited to submit comments on this proposed design for the rehabilitation of Welcome Park for a 14-day period, Jan. 8-21, through the National Park Service’s Planning, Environment and Public Comment website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov. Comments submitted through social media, phone calls, email or mail will not be accepted.