FIRST ON FOX: Republican Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas and Todd Younger, R-Indiana are urging historic museums in Washington, D.C., to “respect” the First Modification rights of pro-life protesters who’re anticipated to descend upon the town on Friday.
“This peaceful exercise of First Amendment rights has historically provided participants with a positive, welcoming experience in our nation’s capital,” the senators wrote in a letter to the Smithsonian Nationwide Air and House Museum and the Nationwide Archives and Information Administration (NARA).
Two years in the past, the Smithsonian Nationwide Air and House Museum booted a number of Catholic college students and their chaperones for sporting pro-life apparel. College students and chaperones from Our Girl of the Rosary College in Greenville, South Carolina, traveled to Washington, D.C., to take part within the annual Nationwide March for Life. The group stood out in matching blue beanies emblazoned with the phrases “Rosary PRO-LIFE.”
LEADERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD REACT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP’S WHITE HOUSE RETURN
Sens. Todd Younger and Ted Cruz pen letter warning museums to stick to pro-life protesters’ free speech rights. (Photograph by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Photographs)(Photograph by Samuel Corum/Getty Photographs) (Getty Photographs)
On the time, the American Heart for Legislation and Justice (ACLJ), representing some college students’ dad and mom, claimed museum employees mocked the group, used expletives, and argued the museum was a “neutral zone” prohibiting political or spiritual messages.
In a settlement reached on March 18, 2024, the Smithsonian Establishment resolved a lawsuit with college students faraway from the Nationwide Air and House Museum for sporting pro-life beanies. As a part of the settlement, the Smithsonian dedicated to offering the scholars a tour and an apology, updating its coverage on clothes with spiritual and political speech for public-facing safety employees, sharing video footage and investigative particulars of the incident, and paying $50,000.
TRUMP PARDONS NEARLY EVERY JAN 6 DEFENDANT BUT SAYS HE’S JUST GETTING STARTED
Individuals attend the annual March for Life rally on the Nationwide Mall on January 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Photographs)
“While we are pleased that the victims of this harassment received justice, it clearly never should have happened in the first place. No sum of money could truly undue the atrocious acts: officers bearing the badge and force of the federal government openly intimidated and violated the First Amendment rights of peaceful students,” the senators wrote to the museums final week.
“Moreover, American taxpayers footed the bill for the Smithsonian Institution employees’ egregious behavior and apparent lack of adequate training. This cannot happen again,” they stated.
TRUMP TO DEPLOY MILITARY TO BORDER, END BIDEN PAROLE POLICIES IN FLURRY OF DAY ONE EXECUTIVE ORDERS
Individuals attend the annual March for Life rally exterior of the U.S. Supreme Courtroom on January 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Photographs)
That very same 12 months, NARA settled a lawsuit in December 2023 after employees reportedly requested guests to take away pro-life clothes in the course of the March for Life protest earlier that 12 months. The guests, represented additionally by the ACLJ, claimed their First Modification rights have been violated. NARA apologized, admitted the incident breached its insurance policies, and agreed to pay $10,000 in authorized charges whereas implementing employees coaching to forestall future violations.
The senators are urging the establishments to reply questions on whether or not they have honored prior settlements relating to the remedy of holiday makers displaying spiritual or political messages and whether or not employees have been reminded of insurance policies defending free speech. NARA can be being requested to decide to sustaining these protections after a key injunction expires in January 2025. Each companies have been requested to offer detailed explanations of their actions and preparations.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In an electronic mail to Fox Information Digital, Smithsonian Establishment spokesperson Pamela Baker-Masson stated, “We will correspond with the Senators.”
NARA didn’t reply to a request for remark by press deadline.
