In February, the American Middle for Legislation and Justice (ACLJ) filed a main lawsuit within the Federal District Courtroom for the District of Columbia towards the Smithsonian Nationwide Air and Area Museum for violating the First Modification by harassing after which kicking out a gaggle of Christian college students for carrying pro-life hats.
WASHINGTON, March 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The American Middle for Legislation and Justice (ACLJ) has introduced a victory for his or her shoppers of their lawsuit towards the Smithsonian Nationwide Air and Area Museum for harassing after which kicking out a gaggle of pro-life Christian college students. As reported at ACLJ.org and main information shops together with Fox Information, the scholars from a Catholic college in Greenville, South Carolina, had traveled to Washington, D.C., to take part within the fiftieth Annual Nationwide March for Life.
This victory follows on the heels of one other victory for our different shoppers within the case towards the Nationwide Archives. Simply as within the Nationwide Archives case, the Smithsonian has agreed to enter right into a consent order and preliminary injunction, which is a courtroom order prohibiting the Smithsonian from concentrating on pro-lifers once more.
On January 20, 2023, following the March for Life, a gaggle of younger pro-life college students, together with dad and mom and chaperones, visited the Smithsonian Nationwide Air and Area Museum. Whereas within the museum, the scholars have been focused and harassed, and finally kicked out by workers just because the scholars have been carrying blue beanie hats that had “Rosary PRO-LIFE” written on them.
We filed a lawsuit on behalf of these college students. As we beforehand defined:
When our shoppers initially entered the museum, they have been advised by at the very least two safety officers to take away their hats as they have been going by way of safety. They complied, believing this to be a easy safety protocol for screening. After passing by way of safety and seeing different people carrying expressive apparel, the scholars put their hats again on and considered the museum displays. Thereafter, a number of museum personnel advised the scholars they have to take away their hats. Workers might be heard utilizing expletives concerning the college students, lots of whom have been minors….
Now, the Smithsonian has agreed to not interact in this sort of harassment of pro-lifers once more on the Nationwide Air and Area Museum. As well as, it is usually going to instruct safety officers in any respect its museums to not goal pro-life speech. In response to the consent order that has simply been authorized by the courtroom:
Smithsonian shall additional reiterate to all safety officers stationed in any respect Smithsonian museums open to the general public and the Nationwide Zoological Park, that Smithsonian coverage doesn’t prohibit guests from carrying hats or different sorts of clothes with messages, together with spiritual and political speech.
Whereas we’re happy to announce this victory for our shoppers, this case is way from over. As with our lawsuit towards the Nationwide Archives, we are going to enter a interval of mediation with the Smithsonian Nationwide Air and Area Museum to see if we are able to resolve why our shoppers have been focused. This is only one of many coordinated efforts to harass and abuse pro-lifers in federally funded establishments. That directive got here from somebody, and whoever it was have to be held accountable, and we will do the work crucial to carry them accountable.
About ACLJ: The American Middle for Legislation and Justice (ACLJ), specializing in the preservation and protection of constitutional rights, relies in Washington, D.C. For extra info, go to ACLJ.org.
Media Contact:
Brian Mayes
615-771-2040
[email protected]
SOURCE American Middle for Legislation and Justice
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