First on Fox: Republican Senator. Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, and Todd Young, Republican of Indiana, are urging historical museums in Washington, D.C., to “respect” their First Amendment rights. Pro-life protesters They are expected to descend on the city on Friday.
“This peaceful exercise of First Amendment rights has historically provided participants with a positive and welcoming experience in our nation’s capital,” the senators wrote in a letter to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
Two years ago, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum expelled several Catholic students and their chaperones for wearing pro-life clothing. Students and chaperones traveled from Our Lady of the Rosary School in Greenville, South Carolina to washington dc, To participate in the annual National March for Life. The group stood out wearing matching blue beanie hats emblazoned with the phrase “Rosary PRO-LIFE.”
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A pen letter from Senators Todd Young and Ted Cruz warns museums against abiding by the free speech rights of pro-life protesters. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
At the time, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which represents some of the students' parents, claimed that museum staff mocked the group, used expletives, and argued that the museum was a “neutral zone” that prohibited political or religious messages.
In a settlement reached on March 18, 2024, the Smithsonian Institution settled a lawsuit with students who were expelled from the National Air and Space Museum for wearing pro-life beanie hats. As part of the agreement, the Smithsonian committed to providing students with a tour and apology, updating its policy on clothing with religious and political rhetoric for public-facing security personnel, sharing video footage and details of the investigation into the incident, and paying $50,000.
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People attend the annual March for Life on the National Mall on January 19, 2024 in Washington, DC (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
“While we are pleased that the victims of this harassment received justice, it is clear that it should never have happened in the first place. No amount of money can truly undo these egregious acts: officers with the badge and power of the federal government intimidated and publicly abused us.” the First Amendment rights of peaceful students,” the senators wrote to the museums last week.
“Furthermore, American taxpayers have footed the bill for the appalling behavior of Smithsonian staff and apparent lack of proper training. This cannot happen again,” they said.
People attend the annual March for Life outside the U.S. Supreme Court on January 19, 2024 in Washington, D.C (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
That same year, NARA settled a lawsuit in December 2023 after staff asked visitors to remove pro-life clothing during a “March for Life” protest earlier that year. The visitors, also represented by the ACLJ, claimed that their First Amendment rights had been violated. NARA apologized, acknowledged that the incident violated its policies, and agreed to pay $10,000 in legal fees while implementing employee training to prevent future violations.
The senators are urging the institutions to answer questions about whether they have respected previous settlements regarding the treatment of visitors who display religious or political messages and whether employees have been reminded of policies that protect freedom of expression. NARA is also required to commit to maintaining these protections after the master injunction expires in January 2025. Both agencies have been asked to provide detailed explanations of their actions and preparations.
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In an email to Fox News Digital, Smithsonian Institution spokeswoman Pamela Baker Mason said: “We will reach out to the senators.”
NARA did not respond to a request for comment by press deadline.
