politics
Appeals court allows removal of climate and history materials from national parks
A federal appeals court ruled that the government does not have to restore materials on climate change, immigration and slavery that were removed from national parks. The decision reverses a lower court order that had required reinstallation within 21 days.
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A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled Thursday that the government is not required to reinstall materials on climate change, immigration and slavery removed from national parks. The panel found that advocacy groups challenging the removals failed to show specific evidence of irreparable harm, overturning a district court decision that had ordered reinstallation.
Background of the policy An interior department directive instructed the National Park Service to identify and remove images, descriptions and narratives that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living. The directive followed an executive order directing restoration of what officials described as truth and sanity to American history.
Lawsuit and lower court ruling Non-profit groups filed a lawsuit in February against the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. A district court judge had sided with the groups and ordered the materials reinstated within 21 days, citing concerns over censorship.
The appeals court determined that the district court’s findings of reputational harm and reduced membership lacked sufficient supporting evidence from the plaintiffs.
