Photo Of West Point Cadets Sparks Controversy

Note: we are republishing this story, which originally made the news in May 2016.

The photo appears to show the all-black, all-female cadets raising their fists in a gesture that has lately come to be associated with the controversial movement. However, the gesture has been used for centuries to symbolize resistance by a variety of groups, from labor unions to suffragists to Black Panthers.

The Army Times reports that it received the photo from concerned readers who were worried that the cadets may have violated Department of Defense Directive 1344:10, Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces. The directive discourages cadets from “partisan political activity” when in uniform.

John Burk, a former soldier and now current motivational coach, accused the cadets of aligning themselves with a political movement. He noted on his Facebook page that an anonymous military service member reached out to him to express their concern.

“It’s a really touchy subject here,” the anonymous source told Burk, according to the Daily News. “We can get kicked out of West Point, or forced to repeat years for what is called a ‘respect board.’ They can be given just for making someone upset, so no one wants to get kicked out of college … over something like this.”

Burk’s Facebook post has since gone viral, and many commenters were unhappy with the cadets’ actions.

“Equality means abiding by the same standards,” one commenter wrote. “Kick those WOMEN OUT!”

“All of these cadets should be expelled, immediately!” another said.

It remains to be seen what disciplinary actions the Army will take, if any. The 16 cadets in the photo have yet to be identified.

Sources: Daily NewsArmy Times

Related Posts

Late-Night Sighting: Trump Spotted With Mysterious Item

The silence of the late-night street was shattered in a matter of seconds. A solitary shadow clad in a familiar baseball cap emerged from the darkness, a…

“SHATTERING THE SILENCE, BRAD PITTS DAUGHTER”

For years, the world viewed the Pitt-Jolie household through a lens of curated perfection, seeing only the red carpets, the private jets, and the golden glow of…

Officials finally think they know origin of hantavirus outbreak on cruise that caused three deaths

Health officials investigating the deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship now believe they may have identified where the infection began. Authorities in Argentina suspect the virus…

The real salary of Pope Leo XIV: How much does the first American Pope earn?

When the news broke that Robert Francis Prevost would become the first-ever American pope, many were curious about what this would mean not only for the Catholic…

At 68, David Caruso looks unrecognizable

A lot of times, we will sit and wonder what happened to a certain celebrity that the whole world was crazy over. This is a story of…

The search for Raisa ends, after 2 months she was found all… See more

After two long months of anguish and uncertainty, the search for Raisa has come to a heartbreaking end. The young woman, who had been missing, was finally…