Authored by Ryan Morgan by way of The Epoch Occasions (emphasis ours),

The Smithsonian Establishment has apologized for the conduct of its Nationwide Air and Area Museum staff who drove pro-life activists out of the museum throughout the March For Life Rally in Washington final month.

Tens of 1000’s of pro-life activists had been in Washington on Jan. 20 to attend the annual rally in opposition to abortion. Through the weekend occasion, some rallygoers selected to go to the Air and Area Museum however had been kicked out over hats emblazoned with pro-life messages.

The incident throughout the pro-life rally prompted 40 Republican lawmakers to ship a letter to Smithsonian Establishment Director Lonnie G. Bunch III, demanding solutions.

Of their letter, the lawmakers raised allegations that museum staff repeatedly “accosted” pro-life college students from a Catholic faculty in Greenville, South Carolina. The scholars had been carrying blue beanie hats embroidered with the phrases “Rosary PRO-LIFE.”

The museum staff allegedly mocked the scholars, “known as them expletives, and made feedback that the museum was a ‘impartial zone’ the place they may not categorical such statements.”

As a taxpayer-funded entity, the Smithsonian Establishment and its numerous museums and buildings are usually prohibited from interfering within the free speech actions of its guests. The Smithsonian Establishment doesn’t permit folks to carry demonstrations or show placards, indicators, and banners in its buildings, however political messages on articles of clothes aren’t prohibited.

On Tuesday, Bunch responded to the lawmakers, giving his assurances that the incident was a mistake and the Smithsonian Establishment is taking corrective actions.

“This was an aberration and never reflective of Smithsonian values and observe of welcoming all guests no matter viewpoint,” Bunch wrote. “Guests are to not be denied entry primarily based on messages on their clothes, and an error was made on this regard on January 20, 2023.”

Smithsonian Retraining Workers

Bunch advised the Republican lawmakers he had directed the Smithsonian museum to supply staff with refresher coaching relating to its insurance policies for guests arriving after demonstrations within the nation’s capital.

“Moreover, I’ve directed that safety personnel be supplied with refresher coaching earlier than any scheduled demonstration to stop this from occurring once more,” Bunch wrote.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), one of many lawmakers who joined the letter to Bunch, advised Fox Information, “The Smithsonian has publicly acknowledged its staff’ wrongdoing, instituted refresher coaching, and brought fast corrective motion to treatment the state of affairs and claims it won’t occur once more,” however stated, “Congress might want to proceed correct oversight of the Smithsonian and be certain that all People are welcome on the Air and Area Museum.”

Going through Lawsuit

Whereas Bunch stated the Smithsonian Establishment has taken actions to keep away from making the identical errors sooner or later, the establishment is going through a lawsuit for the Jan. 20 incident on the Air and Area Museum.

The American Middle for Regulation & Justice (ACLJ) filed a lawsuit in opposition to the museum earlier this month on behalf of fogeys and youngsters impacted by the incident. The lawsuit names the museum, its leaders, and 5 unnamed John and Jane Doe police or safety guards who took half within the Jan. 20 incident.

The ACLJ has additionally filed a lawsuit in opposition to the Nationwide Archives and 4 John and Jane Doe police or safety guards who allegedly kicked one other group of pro-life guests out of the museum on the identical day.

“What’s so egregious about this explicit concentrating on is that it was executed by the very federal establishment that’s residence to our Declaration of Independence, our Structure, and the Invoice of Rights—the precise paperwork that decision on our authorities to guard the freedoms of speech and faith, not trample on them,” ACLJ stated of its lawsuit in opposition to the Nationwide Archives.