Ahead of the 2025 National March for Life in Washington, D.C. on Friday, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) are leading an effort to ensure that the First Amendment rights of pro-life Americans are respected while they visit our nation’s capital.
During the 2023 March for Life, individuals identifying as pro-life – including students and children – faced harassment and discrimination from Smithsonian Institution employees and security officers at the National Archives Museum.
Ahead of this year’s March for Life, Senators Young and Cruz wrote to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and the Archivist of the United States asking for assurances that similar conduct will not occur again.
In 2023, a group of students from South Carolina was mocked and expelled by Smithsonian Institution employees for wearing pro-life and human-rights-affirming apparel at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The victims of this harassment received justice via a settlement in March of 2024.
In a letter to Lonnie Bunch, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Senators Young and Cruz requested a commitment from the Institution to adhere to the Constitution and the settlement requirements to prevent this situation from happening again. The full text of the letter from the senators to the Smithsonian Institution can be found here.
Additionally, during the 2023 March for Life, a group of pro-life individuals from Illinois were told to cover or remove their pro-life attire at the National Archives Museum by security officers employed by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). In February 2023, NARA settled a civil case with the individuals. As part of the lawsuit, NARA was “enjoined from prohibiting visitors from wearing t-shirts, hats, buttons, etc., that display protest language, including religious and political speech.” However, this preliminary injunction expired on January 19, 2025, less than one week before the 2025 March for Life.
In a letter to Dr. Colleen Shogan, Archivist of the United States, Senators Young and Cruz expressed concern that NARA may interpret the expiration of the February 2023 settlement’s preliminary injunction as an invitation to return to its 2023 conduct. Young and Cruz requested a commitment from NARA to ensure all NARA personnel will respect the First Amendment rights of their visitors, including pro-life Americans. The text of the letter to the Archivist can be found here.
Read more about the senators’ efforts to protect the First Amendment rights of pro-life Americans here.
Ray Allison named next executive director of the Indiana State Fair Commission
INvestABLE Indiana announces expanded eligibility criteria beginning January 1
Governor Braun announces record year for Indiana tourism
Rockville Parks Board continues working on quality of life improvements
Indiana advances coal ash permitting program
Indiana's state parks offer New Years Day events
Rockville Council strips Clerk-Treasurer of Town Manager duties
DNR receives regional award for project on former mine land near Pleasantville
ISP shopping safety tips
Riverton Parke's Emily Adams awarded the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Parke County
BMV announces Christmas and New Year's Day holiday hours
Indiana launches Smart SNAP
Indiana 211: Connecting Hoosiers to holiday support and essential resources
Department of Homeland Security launches Worst of the Worst website
Governor Braun takes action to waive hours-of-service regulations for transporting propane
Two Indiana State Fair Commission executives elected to prominent national IAFE Positions, Indiana State Fair honored with multiple awards
Cover Crop Premium Discount Program available for Hoosier farmers, new pre-enrollment available
Indiana FSSA extends open enrollment for HIP and PathWays Plans through December 24
