The longhouse exhibit at the State Museum in Albany.

On behalf of the more than 1,200 members of the Public Employees Federation at the state Department of Education whom I represent as an elected union leader, including those who work at the New York State Museum, Library, Archives and Office of Cultural Education, I strongly condemn efforts by the Trump administration to interfere in the operations of the Smithsonian Institution and the world-class museums that it operates.

The specious justifications for these moves — that they ensure an “accurate representation” of American history — conceal precisely the opposite goal. Censuring American history by removing references to challenging and difficult topics does not serve the educational needs of museum visitors. What makes a nation great is its ability to grapple with all aspects of its........

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