Republican senators issue warning to historic museums ahead of pro-life march: ‘Respect’ free speech
Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Todd Young of Indiana have penned a letter urging historical museums in Washington, D.C. to respect the First Amendment rights of pro-life protesters who are expected to gather in the city on Friday. The senators emphasized the importance of peaceful demonstrations and the need for museums to uphold free speech rights.
The call for respect stems from a previous incident at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, where Catholic students and their chaperones were asked to leave for wearing pro-life attire. The group, from Our Lady of the Rosary School in South Carolina, had traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the National March for Life. The students were wearing matching blue beanies with the words “Rosary PRO-LIFE” when they were removed from the museum.
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) represented the students’ parents in a lawsuit against the Smithsonian Institution. A settlement was reached in March 2024, which included a tour, an apology, updates to the museum’s policy on clothing with religious and political speech, sharing of video footage and investigative details, and a payment of $50,000.
Senators Cruz and Young expressed their satisfaction with the settlement but reiterated that the harassment should never have occurred. They emphasized the importance of protecting First Amendment rights and ensuring that similar incidents do not happen in the future.
In a separate incident, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) settled a lawsuit in December 2023 after visitors were asked to remove pro-life clothing during the March for Life protest earlier that year. NARA apologized, admitted to breaching its policies, and agreed to pay $10,000 in legal fees while implementing staff training to prevent future violations.
The senators are now seeking answers from both institutions regarding their adherence to previous settlements and their commitment to protecting free speech rights. They are calling on NARA to maintain these protections after a key injunction expires in January 2025. The agencies have been asked to provide detailed explanations of their actions and preparations.
In response to the senators’ letter, a spokesperson for the Smithsonian Institution stated that they will correspond with the senators. NARA did not respond to a request for comment by the press deadline.
The senators’ efforts underscore the importance of upholding the First Amendment rights of all individuals, regardless of their beliefs or affiliations. It is crucial for museums and other institutions to respect free speech rights and ensure that all visitors are able to peacefully express their views without fear of discrimination or harassment.
