National Archives Altered Trump Signs In Women's March Photo

COLLEGE PARK, MD — The National Archives this week said it altered a photo of the Women's March to obscure messaging critical of President Donald Trump, according to reports. The photo was taken at the first Women's March held in January 2017, the day after Trump's inauguration.

Among the alterations made by the Archives, according to The Hill, were blotting out of the word “Trump” in a placard that reads “God Hates Trump,” and the blurring of the same word in another sign that reads “Trump & GOP — Hands Off Women.” Words on other signs referencing female anatomy were also altered.

An Archives spokesperson said they blurred the content in the photo, which was part of the facility's exhibit about the 19th Amendment, to "not engage in current political controversy;" however, Archives officials issued a formal apology on Saturday, saying they made a mistake.

"This photo is not an archival record held by the National Archives, but one we licensed to use as a promotional graphic. Nonetheless, we were wrong to alter the image," reads a statement on the Archives website. "We have removed the current display and will replace it as soon as possible with one that uses the unaltered image."

The altered photo, at right, appeared as a promotional graphic in the elevator lobby outside the entrance to the Rightfully Hers exhibit at the National Archives in Washington, DC. It was removed today, according to the Archives. PHOTO CREDIT: National Archives

The archives said it will immediately begin a “thorough review" of its policies and procedures for exhibits “so that this does not happen again.”

Others were not satisfied with the apology. The American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement on Twitter that an apology is not enough.

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