Smithsonian Museum Kicks Out Students Over Their Pro Life Hats:

We went to the Air and Space museum the day before the March. Didn't have any pro-life gear on, but now I wish we had...

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who told them the museum was a “neutral zone.”

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In Washington DC?

I bet if they had BLM and Saint Floyd embroidered hats they would have been given a VIP tour by curator of the Smithsonian.

Sue the hell out of the heathen communists.

I'm pro-Life and anti-BLM false narrative. I feel comfortable with each.

Question 1: if you were a museum patron that shared my position and saw a pro-BLM or "Defund" hat, what would your reaction be?

Question 2: is there evidence that the guard would have given the BLM patron the same treatment? Is the guard enforcing museum regs arbitrarily or is he even-handed?

Is the museum "controlling the language" and restricting self-expression? Has the museum become a policy proxy for a certain political faction?

Despite the fact that admittance is free, it's a "gathering" inside a space that memorializes events that you've expressed interest in seeing, evidenced by your presence there. That applies to everybody. You and your respective museum-goers have a mutual obligation to respect that concept and not create distractions that degrade the experience for others.

Regardless of which side of an issue you're on, you should not take unfair advantage of someone else's presence/voluntary confinement in a space who has taken the effort to be there. I empathize with the museum on that point. However, arbitrarily turning the policy on and off based on what side of an issue you're on doesn't square with me.

Question 3: Who and by what method determines what issues fall into the "take the hat off" category?

Question 4: Is there a double standard in play?

If ANYONE, ANYWHERE ever waves a rule book at you ask to see it. If they can’t produce it, tell them to get bent. If they can produce it, use it to punish them by doing something they never did and actually read it.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard folks spout out rules and when asked to produce them they get a confused look on their face. Everyone likes to quote the rule book but no one likes to actually read it.

I’ve beaten schools, law enforcement the department of public safety with their own rule book before. It was glorious every single time.

While on Smithsonian premises NO VISITOR SHALL (Prohibited Conduct):

While on Smithsonian premises NO VISITOR SHALL:
Carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed on the premises. The prohibition on firearms applies to all visitors, including those with firearm permits, but not to active law enforcement personnel authorized to carry firearms.
Display or carry placards, signs, or banners
Destroy, damage, or remove property
Climb upon any part of a building
Use loud, abusive, or otherwise improper language
Loiter, sleep, or participate in unwarranted assemblies
Create any hazard to persons or things
Perform obscene or indecent acts
Engage in disorderly conduct
Use, possess, or sell illegal drugs
Bring dogs or other animals, other than service animals
Take photographs for advertising or any other commercial purpose
Solicit for commercial or charitable purposes or distribute advertisements, pamphlets, handbills, and flyers
Damage, deface, pick, or remove any herb, shrub, bush, tree, or turf, or portion thereof, in any Smithsonian Garden or at the National Zoo

In addition to the above, while on Zoo premises, NO VISITOR SHALL:
Kill, injure, or disturb any exhibit or research animal by any means except to secure personal safety
Pet, attempt to pet, handle, move, or remove exhibit or research animals
Feed exhibit or research animals, except in strict accordance with authorized signs
Catch, attempt to catch, trap, remove, or kill any free roaming animals inhabiting the premises
Go over, under, between, or otherwise cross any guardrail, fence, moat, wall, or any other safety barrier
Seat, stand, or hold children over any safety barrier
Throw or toss rocks, or any other missiles into, from, or while on premises
Bring strollers, baby carriages, or other conveyances, except wheel chairs, into exhibit buildings and public restrooms
Engage in ball games, or any athletic activity, except in places as may be officially designated for such purposes
Smoke or carry lighted cigarettes, cigars, or pipes into exhibit buildings, or to have a fire of any kind on the premises
Visitors who violate these rules may be subject to fine or imprisonment. The complete Smithsonian buildings and grounds regulations can be found in Title 36 of Code of Federal Regulations, parts 504 and 520 (National Zoo).

This is the only one that could possibly apply.
-Display or carry placards, signs, or banners

This is not what they were doing.

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These people are allowed their beliefs as well, and all they are doing is wearing a hat.

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Totally disagree. What if the hat had bold lettering that said "F-You and your White Supremacist Kids"?

Anything that disrupts the experience of fellow museum-goers is off-limits. The more confined the space is, the more likely it is that they can't help but see it. That environment is being sabotaged/hijacked by opportunists. However, I have no problem if they wear the same hat in the Mojave Desert.