Each month, the Rev. Robert Turner walks 43 miles from his home in Baltimore to Washington. He does it, in part, to raise awareness about an executive order President Donald Trump signed in March targeting the Smithsonian Institution.  

The order, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” forbids the Smithsonian from promoting “narratives that portray American and western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.” It also prohibits “exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with federal law and policy.” 

“It is asking, broadly speaking, museums to remove what they deem partisan material that undermines, vilifies or marginalizes various groups,” said Sybil Roberts, a professor at American University.

Critics say the order could be interpreted to justify blocking exhibits about some painful chapters of American history, from slavery to Jim Crow laws that mandated segregation and perpetuated discrimination. The National Museum of African American History and Culture details that past, along with exhibits highlighting the successes of Black Americans and their contributions to America. 

“It seems to me the real horror of this is saying to people, particularly people of color — African American, indigenous, Latin — your stories don't matter,” Roberts said.

It’s also a personal cause for Turner, as his church’s history is listed in the museum. Turner’s monthly walks to Washington include a stop to pray outside the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

He is also encouraging his congregants at Empowerment Temple AME Church to become paying members of the museum, which they can do for as little as $25. It’s an idea borrowed from a pastor in Chicago.

“I got the impetus from another clergy colleague of mine — Otis Martin III in Chicago, who made the call to his church — and I was so motivated by that," Turner said. "I talked to him on the phone. I told him we're going to do the same thing here, and that I was going to add the Smithsonian."

The Smithsonian receives about 62% of its funding from the federal government, and the rest comes from private donations. Turner said he hopes the Smithsonian can one day earn enough through private donations that it will no longer need to rely on the federal government. Turner’s next walk, on Monday, coincides with an upcoming Smithsonian Board of Regents meeting.  

The Smithsonian has pushed back on claims that certain museum exhibits have already been removed. In a statement, the museum said it “preserves and protects all objects and artifacts in its collection.”