Fact Check: The National Parks Conservation Association's president, Theresa Pierno, stated that rangers should be able to discuss historical topics like Japanese American incarceration without fear of repercussions.

Fact Check: "The National Parks Conservation Association's president, Theresa Pierno, stated that rangers should be able to discuss historical topics like Japanese American incarceration without fear of repercussions."

What We Know

Theresa Pierno, the president of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), has publicly expressed concerns regarding new directives from the Department of the Interior that could inhibit park rangers from discussing certain historical topics. In response to the implementation of signs at national parks asking visitors to report "negative" information about past or living Americans, Pierno stated, "Rangers should be able to talk about the history of Japanese American incarceration at Amache, or the history of slavery at Fort Monroe, without looking over their shoulders in fear" (source-3). This reflects her belief that rangers should freely discuss complex and difficult aspects of American history.

The NPCA has criticized these signs, arguing that they undermine the role of rangers as storytellers of American history, which includes both triumphs and tragedies (source-2). Pierno emphasized that visitors to historic sites expect to learn the full scope of history, including its darker chapters (source-1).

Analysis

The claim that Theresa Pierno stated rangers should be able to discuss historical topics like Japanese American incarceration without fear of repercussions is supported by multiple sources. Her comments were made in the context of new policies that could potentially censor discussions about sensitive historical topics. The NPCA's position is that these policies are part of a broader effort to sanitize American history, which they argue is detrimental to public understanding (source-5).

The sources cited are credible, including major news outlets and the NPCA itself, which is a well-established organization dedicated to protecting national parks. The statements made by Pierno are consistent across various reports, reinforcing their reliability. The NPCA's advocacy for the preservation of historical accuracy in national parks adds weight to her assertions regarding the importance of discussing all facets of American history (source-4).

Conclusion

Verdict: True. Theresa Pierno did indeed state that rangers should be able to discuss historical topics like Japanese American incarceration without fear of repercussions. This statement is substantiated by her public remarks and the NPCA's ongoing advocacy against policies that threaten the integrity of historical narratives in national parks.

Sources

1. National Parks Are Told to Delete Content That ' ...
2. New Park Signs Undermine Rangers, Aim to Erase History
3. National Park Service seeks informants to report disparaging remarks ...
4. National Parks Ask Guests To Report "Negative" Historical ...
5. Public Urged To Report National Park Placards That Disparage Americans ...
6. New National Park Rules: Single-Use Plastics Allowed, 'Disparaging ...
7. There Is No Precedent
8. Trump Administration Enlisting National Parks Into the Republican ...