{"id":4529,"date":"2024-05-27T14:36:52","date_gmt":"2024-05-27T14:36:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kohajone.press\/?p=4529"},"modified":"2024-05-27T14:36:54","modified_gmt":"2024-05-27T14:36:54","slug":"photo-of-west-point-cadets-sparks-controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kohajone.press\/?p=4529","title":{"rendered":"Photo Of West Point Cadets Sparks Controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Note: we are republishing this story, which originally made the news in May 2016.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cpartisan political activity\u201d when in uniform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a really touchy subject here,\u201d the anonymous source told Burk, according to the Daily News. \u201cWe can get kicked out of West Point, or forced to repeat years for what is called a \u2018respect board.\u2019 They can be given just for making someone upset, so no one wants to get kicked out of college \u2026 over something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Burk\u2019s Facebook post has since gone viral, and many commenters were unhappy with the cadets\u2019 actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEquality means abiding by the same standards,\u201d one commenter wrote. \u201cKick those WOMEN OUT!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll of these cadets should be expelled, immediately!\u201d another said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources: Daily News<\/a>, Army Times<\/a><\/p>\n

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