红杏视频 Demands National Archives Release Records on Doctored Women鈥檚 March Photo
Government Agency Blurred Protest Signs Critical of Trump and Referencing Women鈥檚 Bodies
NEW YORK 鈥� The 红杏视频 is demanding the National Archives turn over all records concerning its decision to alter a 2017 Women鈥檚 March photo in order to remove protest signs critical of President Trump or referencing women鈥檚 bodies.
鈥淒octoring the photo was nothing less than Orwellian,鈥� said Louise Melling, 红杏视频 Deputy Legal Director, in a blog post on the filing. 鈥淚nstead of documenting history, the National Archives altered it to mask criticism of the president and erase women鈥檚 bodies. We need answers.鈥�
A last week revealed that alterations had been made to the photo, which was displayed as part of an exhibit, 鈥淩ightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote.鈥� The National Archives initially defended the decision to doctor the photo, but 鈥� facing mounting public outcry 鈥� soon after reversed course. In a statement apologizing for its actions, the agency said it was a 鈥渕istake鈥� to alter the photo.
鈥淎 mistake is tripping and spilling coffee on the photo,鈥� responds Melling. 鈥淏lurring signs critical of Trump or referencing women鈥檚 bodies is a deliberate act 鈥� an apology alone won鈥檛 cut it.鈥�
In the Freedom of Information Act request filed today, the 红杏视频 is asking the National Archives to make public all records explaining why it took the alarming step of altering the photo in the first place, and who ordered it. It is also asking the agency to release any communications it may have had with other government agencies or officials about the alterations, and a list of any other records that may have been doctored by the National Archives without the public鈥檚 knowledge.
The organization adds that it is shameful that the independent, non-partisan government agency is joining in on efforts to regulate and shame women鈥檚 bodies by removing references to them.
鈥淭he photo the National Archives doctored was of a protest about the country鈥檚, and the president鈥檚, treatment of women,鈥� said Melling. 鈥淭he National Archives decided our protest was too controversial, and therefore unmentionable.鈥�
Melling鈥檚 blog post is here: /news/lgbt-rights/the-national-archives-doctored-a-womens-march-photo-critical-of-trump-were-demanding-answers/.
The FOIA request is here: /legal-document/foia-request-national-archives-doctoring-womens-march-photo.