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Note: we are republishing this story, which originally made the news in May 2016.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

The Guthrie Family Shares an Emotional Video Message That Resonates Across Social Media

In the age of instant communication, social media platforms have become a primary way for individuals and families to share important life updates with the public. Sometimes…

Iranian Cleric Issues Strong Warning Toward Donald Trump After Reported U.S. Naval Strike

Tensions between the United States and Iran intensified this week after reports that a U.S. naval strike sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, triggering strong…

Stephen Hawking Issued Stark Warning About Earth’s Long-Term Future

Renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking was known not only for groundbreaking work in cosmology but also for speaking candidly about the long-term future of humanity. Even years…

Trump Hosts Prominent Pastors at Oval Office Meeting on Faith and Public Policy

Washington, D.C. — Former U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed a group of influential Christian pastors to a meeting in the Oval Office this week, highlighting the continued…

What causes the ”old people smell” and how you can manage it

As we get older, our bodies naturally change. And sometimes those changes show up in unexpected ways, like body odor. Skin becomes thinner, hormone levels shift, and…

Kristi Noem’s answer on ‘sexual relations’ with Corey Lewandowski was ‘final straw’ for Trump: report

A tense moment on Capitol Hill is going viral after Kristi Noem was confronted with a blunt question about her alleged relationship with Corey Lewandowski during a…