FOX 1st: Republican Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) speak out against the Washington, D.C. history museum about the pro-life protests that will flood Washington, D.C. It asks them to “respect” the First Amendment rights of participants. on friday.
In a letter to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the senators wrote that “the peaceful exercise of First Amendment rights has historically given participants the opportunity to “We have provided a positive and welcoming experience.”
Two years ago, the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum disciplined several Catholic students and their chaperones for wearing pro-life attire. Students and chaperones from Our Lady of the Rosary School in Greenville, South Carolina, traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the annual National March for Life. The group stood out in matching blue beanies emblazoned with the words “Rosary PRO-LIFE.”
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Sens. Todd Young and Ted Cruz wrote a pen letter warning the museum to respect the free speech rights of pro-life activists. (Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)(Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
At the time, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), representing the parents of some students, said museum staff had mocked and used profanity at students and that the museum had banned political or religious messages. It was claimed to be a “neutral zone.”
In a settlement reached on March 18, 2024, the Smithsonian Institution has resolved a lawsuit that ejected a student from the National Air and Space Museum for wearing a pro-life beanie. As part of the agreement, the Smithsonian Institution will provide tours and an apology to students, update its dress policy for public-facing security personnel to include religious and political statements, and provide video footage and investigation details of the incident. and promised to pay $50,000.
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People participate in the annual March for Life rally on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2024 (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
“While I am glad the victims of this harassment received justice, it is clear that this should never have happened in the first place. No amount of money can truly atone for this brutal act. “The First Amendment rights of peaceful students were openly threatened and violated by federally badged police officers and federal enforcement,” the senators wrote to the museum last week. sent.
“Furthermore, American taxpayers have paid for the egregious conduct and apparent lack of proper training of Smithsonian museum staff. Something like this must never happen again,” they said.
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People participate in the annual March for Life rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2024 (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
That same year, NARA settled a lawsuit in December 2023 after its staff reportedly asked visitors to remove their pro-life clothing during a March for Life protest earlier that year. The visitors, also represented by ACLJ, argued that their First Amendment rights were violated. NARA apologized, acknowledged that the incident violated its policies, and agreed to pay $10,000 in legal costs while providing training for its staff to prevent future violations.
The senators asked each facility whether it respected past settlements regarding the treatment of visitors who display religious or political messages and whether it reminded staff of policies protecting free speech. I’m asking you to answer. NARA is also required to commit to maintaining these protections after the key injunction expires in January 2025. Both agencies have been asked to provide detailed explanations of their actions and preparations.
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“We will be in touch with the senators,” Pamela Baker-Masson, a spokeswoman for the Smithsonian Institution, said in an email to Fox News Digital.
NARA did not respond to a request for comment by press deadline.
Jamie Joseph is a political writer. She leads Fox News Digital’s Senate coverage.
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