Smithsonian Reviews Policy After Renting to “Hate Group”

Immigration reform group holds event at Postal Museum

WASHINGTON -- The Smithsonian Institution acknowledged it mistakenly rented space to an advocacy group that one civil rights organization calls a hate group.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform made a $5,000 donation to hold an event Tuesday night at the National Postal Museum, The Washington Post reported.

Allowing the group to use museum space violates a policy that bars partisan, political groups, Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas said. The Smithsonian did not cancel the event, though. It would be unfair to cancel because of a museum staffer's mistake, St. Thomas said.

FAIR spokesman Dustin Carnevale says the group is nonpartisan. FAIR is currently holding a two-day lobbying effort in Washington and advocates a temporary moratorium on all immigration.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has called FAIR a hate group.
 

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