Historical quotes to be removed from Charlestown’s Bunker Hill Monument amid controversy

BOSTON — A National Park Service order to remove several historical quotes from the Bunker Hill Monument is sparking backlash from Massachusetts leaders.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey shared photos of panels slated for removal. According to The Washington Post, the review was prompted by a visitor’s complaint that a quote about women’s suffrage was “woke.”

That complaint led officials to examine other inscriptions at the monument. In addition to the suffrage-related quote, an anti-war message and a statement addressing slavery are also being removed.

The move follows an order from President Donald Trump directing the Interior Department to eliminate information reflecting a “corrosive ideology” critical of historic Americans or events.

Markey condemned the decision, calling it a “campaign of censorship,” and says he plans to push Congress to intervene.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey also weighed in, criticizing the removals.

“It is a disgrace that President Trump is attempting to erase voices and perspectives from one of our nation’s most important historic sites,” Healey said in a statement. “That’s not preserving history. That’s censoring it. President Trump doesn’t get to decide which parts of our history are worth remembering.”

The changes have intensified debate over how history should be represented at national landmarks.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

©2026 Cox Media Group