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Christian Students Sue Smithsonian for Kicking Them Out over Pro-Life Hats
Posted on 2/9/23 at 8:10 am
Posted on 2/9/23 at 8:10 am
sorry if already posted but this is ridiculous
Christian students are suing the Smithsonian National Air Space Museum (NASM) for allegedly violating their First and Fifth Amendment rights by kicking them out for wearing pro-life hats following the 50th annual March for Life.
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) filed the lawsuit on Monday in the federal district court for the District of Columbia on behalf of nine students and three parents it says were “unlawfully targeted for their religious pro-life views” on January 20, 2023.
According to the complaint, students, parents, and chaperones from Our Lady of the Rosary Church and School in South Carolina went to the museum following the March for Life. The group members were wearing hats that said, “Rosary Pro-Life.”
“Following their participation in the March for Life event, Plaintiffs visited the NASM whereby all Plaintiffs were subjected to a pattern of ongoing misconduct by at least five different staff, personnel, employees and/or security guards of NASM including Defendants Jane Does and John Does, which included targeting, harassment, discrimination and, ultimately, eviction from NASM simply because they wore blue hats with the inscription, ‘Rosary Pro-Life,’” the complaint states.
Museum staff allegedly mocked the students, called them expletives, and told them their hats were “political statements” and that they were “not promoting equality.” Staff also allegedly told them that the museum is a “neutral zone” and that the First Amendment “does not apply here.” The complaint notes that several other museum patrons were wearing hats and masks, some of which had rainbow “Pride” graphics
“What the Smithsonian did is beyond reprehensible. These were students simply wearing a hat that passively expressed their support for life on the basis of their Christian faith,” said Jordan Sekulow, ACLJ’s executive director. “The way these students, many of whom were minors, were treated by their federal government – the Smithsonian and its employees – should shock everyone to the core. It’s not only abhorrent; it’s blatantly unconstitutional. And that’s why we’re fighting back.”
The lawsuit further points out that the NASM is a government agency that receives roughly 70 percent of its funding from federal appropriations to support its operations.
“As a federal government entity, NASM and its officers, agents and employees are mandated to comply with the First and Fifth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and RFRA (Religious Freedom Restoration Act),” the complaint states.
The ACLJ is asking the court to enjoin defendants from “unlawfully targeting Plaintiff, for disparate treatment and particular scrutiny based on content and viewpoint or association.” The lawsuit also requests that museum employees receive “appropriate training” to make sure their “conduct complies with federal law and the United States Constitution.” Additionally, even though ACLJ generally represents clients for free, if the students prevail on the RFRA claim, the court could order the Smithsonian to pay what would have been the students’ attorneys fees if ACLJ had charged them.
LINK
Christian students are suing the Smithsonian National Air Space Museum (NASM) for allegedly violating their First and Fifth Amendment rights by kicking them out for wearing pro-life hats following the 50th annual March for Life.
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) filed the lawsuit on Monday in the federal district court for the District of Columbia on behalf of nine students and three parents it says were “unlawfully targeted for their religious pro-life views” on January 20, 2023.
According to the complaint, students, parents, and chaperones from Our Lady of the Rosary Church and School in South Carolina went to the museum following the March for Life. The group members were wearing hats that said, “Rosary Pro-Life.”
“Following their participation in the March for Life event, Plaintiffs visited the NASM whereby all Plaintiffs were subjected to a pattern of ongoing misconduct by at least five different staff, personnel, employees and/or security guards of NASM including Defendants Jane Does and John Does, which included targeting, harassment, discrimination and, ultimately, eviction from NASM simply because they wore blue hats with the inscription, ‘Rosary Pro-Life,’” the complaint states.
Museum staff allegedly mocked the students, called them expletives, and told them their hats were “political statements” and that they were “not promoting equality.” Staff also allegedly told them that the museum is a “neutral zone” and that the First Amendment “does not apply here.” The complaint notes that several other museum patrons were wearing hats and masks, some of which had rainbow “Pride” graphics
“What the Smithsonian did is beyond reprehensible. These were students simply wearing a hat that passively expressed their support for life on the basis of their Christian faith,” said Jordan Sekulow, ACLJ’s executive director. “The way these students, many of whom were minors, were treated by their federal government – the Smithsonian and its employees – should shock everyone to the core. It’s not only abhorrent; it’s blatantly unconstitutional. And that’s why we’re fighting back.”
The lawsuit further points out that the NASM is a government agency that receives roughly 70 percent of its funding from federal appropriations to support its operations.
“As a federal government entity, NASM and its officers, agents and employees are mandated to comply with the First and Fifth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and RFRA (Religious Freedom Restoration Act),” the complaint states.
The ACLJ is asking the court to enjoin defendants from “unlawfully targeting Plaintiff, for disparate treatment and particular scrutiny based on content and viewpoint or association.” The lawsuit also requests that museum employees receive “appropriate training” to make sure their “conduct complies with federal law and the United States Constitution.” Additionally, even though ACLJ generally represents clients for free, if the students prevail on the RFRA claim, the court could order the Smithsonian to pay what would have been the students’ attorneys fees if ACLJ had charged them.
LINK
Posted on 2/9/23 at 8:12 am to Tom Joad
Sad that right wingers think they can wear their assault hats in public now
Posted on 2/9/23 at 8:15 am to Tom Joad
And the Smithsonian gets $1.144 billion from the Federal Government in 2023. I hope they win the lawsuit.
Posted on 2/9/23 at 8:15 am to Tom Joad
It’s about time to start fighting back against these left wing nuts
Posted on 2/9/23 at 8:15 am to Tom Joad
I bet the students were being just as big of d*ck heads as the employees
ETA:
ETA:
This post was edited on 2/9/23 at 1:58 pm
Posted on 2/9/23 at 8:22 am to Tom Joad
quote:
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ)
I've seen this group in a few lawsuit articles recently. I assume this is the ACLU for conservatives? Since the actual ACLU is full of left wing nutjobs.
Posted on 2/9/23 at 8:22 am to Tom Joad
The Smithsonian is not an executive branch agency and does not exercise regulatory powers, except over its own buildings and grounds. Thus, courts have held that the Smithsonian is not an agency or authority of the Government as those terms are used in certain laws applicable to executive branch agencies such as the Privacy Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. However, the U.S. Attorney General has concluded that the Smithsonian is so "closely connected" to the federal government that it shares the immunity of the United States from state and local regulation. In accordance with this doctrine, local zoning regulations, ABC licensing provisions, sales and use taxes, and real estate taxes are not applicable to the Smithsonian absent a specific federal statute. (There are several instances in which Congress has required federal entities to comply with state and local laws, so questions about the applicability of specific state and local laws to the Smithsonian should be directed to the Office of General Counsel.)
Courts have also held that the Smithsonian enjoys the immunity of the United States from lawsuits, unless such suits are authorized by Congress under specific statutes, such as the Federal Torts Claim Act (torts), the U.S. Copyright Act (copyright infringement), the Tucker Act (contracts), and Title VII the Civil Rights Act (discrimination).
Courts have also held that the Smithsonian enjoys the immunity of the United States from lawsuits, unless such suits are authorized by Congress under specific statutes, such as the Federal Torts Claim Act (torts), the U.S. Copyright Act (copyright infringement), the Tucker Act (contracts), and Title VII the Civil Rights Act (discrimination).
Posted on 2/9/23 at 8:23 am to Tom Joad
Just like the kid wearing the trump hat and the 'medicine man,' there's probably more to this story.
Posted on 2/9/23 at 8:27 am to Tom Joad
The war on Christianity and free speech continues. If you aren't left, you are wrong.
Posted on 2/9/23 at 8:32 am to Tom Joad
At first glance I thought the “woke” institutions were overreaching again.
But wearing “Rosary pro-life” hats following a pro-life March smells more like an organized stunt than just a few kids wearing Christian hats. Maybe there is more to the story.
But wearing “Rosary pro-life” hats following a pro-life March smells more like an organized stunt than just a few kids wearing Christian hats. Maybe there is more to the story.
Posted on 2/9/23 at 8:54 am to Tom Joad
the employees there are pretty useless. The museum is only half open so they have way too many people working and they all just stand around doing jack shite. There was a group of hells angels there at the same time as me oddly enough. They weren’t bothered from what I saw. If what they are saying actually happened, firing the employees should be enough.
Posted on 2/9/23 at 8:57 am to Tom Joad
So, just so I have this straight. The government can force a bakery to bake pride cakes but a federal museum can kick you out (refuse service) if you think babies shouldn’t be killed?
This post was edited on 2/9/23 at 8:59 am
Posted on 2/9/23 at 9:14 am to Tom Joad
LINK
ACLJ really laying it on thick in giving their side of the story
quote:
"One of the security guards approached them, gleefully rubbing his hands together, stating they had made his day," the ACLJ wrote in an online statement.
quote:
The lawsuit details an encounter between the personnel and students, some of whom are minors. As they were making their way toward an exhibit, two employees allegedly said, "The f—king pro-life. What a bunch of s—t."
ACLJ really laying it on thick in giving their side of the story
Posted on 2/9/23 at 9:42 am to Tom Joad
They should get paid, but that money should come from the people that made that decision, not taxpayers. Also, fire whoever was responsible.
Posted on 2/9/23 at 10:37 am to Tom Joad
Is it me or does anyone still have the mindset from when they grew up (like in the 90s) and when you see someone with some pro gay shite you think "somebody is going to whip his arse" then realize its accepted today?
Posted on 2/9/23 at 10:57 am to Tom Joad
The Smithsonian is nothing more than NPR. Their TV shows are left propaganda disgused as history.
Posted on 2/9/23 at 11:07 am to Tom Joad
Brietbart? Sounds about right. Doubt any of this actually happened.
Posted on 2/9/23 at 2:00 pm to Tom Joad
Congress needs to cut their funding.
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