Republican Senators Issue Warning to Historical Museums Ahead of Pro-Life March: ‘Respect’ Free Speech

FIRST ON FOX: Republican sensation. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Todd Young, R-Ind., are urging Washington, D.C., historical museums to “respect” the First Amendment rights of pro-life protesters They are expected to arrive in 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 Aviation Administration. Archives and Records (NARA).

Two years ago, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum kicked out several Catholic students and their companions for wearing pro-life clothing. Students and companions 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 hats emblazoned with the words “PRO-LIFE Rosary.”

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At the time, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which represents parents of some students, claimed that museum staff mocked the group, used profanity and argued that the museum was a “neutral zone.” “which prohibited political or religious messages.

In a settlement reached on March 18, 2024, the Smithsonian Institution settled a lawsuit with students expelled from the National Air and Space Museum for wearing pro-life hats. As part of the settlement, the Smithsonian agreed to give students a tour and apology, update its dress code policy with religious and political speeches for public-facing security staff, share video footage and details of the Smithsonian’s investigation. incident, and pay $50,000.

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“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 could truly compensate for the heinous acts: officers wearing the insignia and force of the federal government intimidated and openly violated the First Amendment rights of peaceful students,” the senators wrote to the museums last week.

“Furthermore, American taxpayers footed the bill for the egregious behavior and apparent lack of proper training of Smithsonian Institution employees. This cannot happen again,” they said.

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That same year, NARA settled a lawsuit in December 2023 after staff reportedly asked visitors to remove pro-life clothing during the March for Life protest earlier that year. The visitors, also represented by the ACLJ, claimed their First Amendment rights were violated. NARA apologized, admitted the incident violated its policies and agreed to pay $10,000 in legal fees while implementing staff training to prevent future violations.

The senators are urging the institutions to answer questions about whether they have honored previous agreements on the treatment of visitors who display religious or political messages and whether staff have been reminded of policies protecting free speech. NARA is also being asked to commit to maintaining these protections after a key court order 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 spokesperson Pamela Baker-Masson said, “We will correspond with senators.”

NARA did not respond to a request for comment by press time.