Response from National Archives over the “T-Shirt Incident”

On January 12, 2008, visitors of the National Archives who were wearing "Impeach Bush" tee-shirts were ordered to leave the building, as dairied by Ralph Lopez in Admirers of Constitution Booted for Wearing Impeach T-shirts in DC.
I was so pissed off by the trampling of free speech in the presence of the original First Amendment that I jotted of an email of outrage to the National Archives:

Given what the National Archives stands for, I should hope that persons not be barred from the building just for wearing an Impeach Bush tee-shirt.  This incident has prompted much concern within the blogging community.  IF this is official NARA policy, please clarify on your website that visitors are not allowed to wear political messages.  Thank you.

My message to the National Archives was not eloquent in any way.  I really did not expect an answer.

However, enough phone calls and messages must have reached the National Archives that they were compelled to respond.

Dear Ms. [Bushondrugs],
We received your email re: the January 12 incident at the National Archives.  Archivist Allen Weinstein's statement follows.  I hope this helps to allay your concerns.

National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW; Washington, DC 20408-0001

Here is their statement (italics are mine):

January 15, 2008

STATEMENT FROM THE ARCHIVIST OF THE UNITED STATES ALLEN WEINSTEIN

Washington, D.C. . . The National Archives has conducted a review of an incident that occurred on Saturday, January 12, at the National Archives Headquarters Building.   According to a report filed by the National Archives security staff, protesters tried to gain entrance to the Constitution Avenue side of the National Archives Building.  They were asked to leave their placards and signs outside.  A security guard also requested that they cover up t-shirts that announced their protest.

In the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, several of the protesters then engaged in loud comments attempting to attract attention and encourage other visitors to the Rotunda to join them.  Their disruptive behavior in the Rotunda was disturbing some of the visitors.  National Archives security guards asked the protesters to leave the building.  

National Archives regulations (CFR36:1280) state that visitors may not distribute leaflets, fliers, handbills and other materials.  Visitors are also prohibited from "acting in a disorderly fashion*in a manner that creates a loud or unusual noise or nuisance."

The National Archives investigation found that the security force acted properly in requesting that the placards and signs be left outside and in asking the protesters to leave the building after they had violated the conduct regulations by talking loudly, thereby disturbing other visitors.  However, the report found also that there was no reason to ask the individuals involved to cover up t-shirts that expressed their protest, and a review of National Archives regulations will be conducted for the security force to ensure that all regulations are properly carried out in future.

So, next time you wear your Impeach Bush or Impeach Cheney tee-shirt in Washington, D.C., remember to WHISPER!!