Kudos, Alex, and the rest of the BHS team (and your fearless leader who has your back, Deborah Schwartz), for taking a clear moral stance standing up for human rights, and for furthering the notion that museums play key roles in fostering a civil and just society.
Over the past months, I've had many conversations with museum professionals who worry it's off-mission to stand up for justice, or whether doing so gets into politics that may offend others (frankly, this seems to be a fear of offending current and potential donors, not of offending the marginalized communities when we don't stand up for them). The clear connection you draw between history and current events demonstrates that at the heart of many of our collections, especially humanities, is a quest for civil liberties and important documentation of our shared human experience (be it through the arts or historical artifacts).
I'm curious what other institutions sent letters like these, from education or any department. Would love to see other examples that might inspire, motivate, and bolster confidence for others to do the same.
Best,
Barbara
Barbara Palley
Independent Consultant