The U.S. Military Academy has launched an inquiry into a photo showing 16 black, female cadets in uniform with their fists raised, an image that has spurred questions about whether the gesture violates military restrictions on political activity.
West Point is looking into whether the photo broke any rules, Spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Kasker said Saturday. It’s unclear how long the inquiry will take and too soon to say what consequences it could have for the cadets, who are poised to graduate May 21.
By campus tradition, groups of cadets often take pictures in traditional dress uniforms to echo historical portraits of their cadets. Indeed, a different picture of the same women, without the raised fists, was tweeted out by the chairwoman of the academy’s Board of Visitors, 1980 graduate Brenda Sue Fulton.
But the fists-up image, which circulated online, led some observers to question whether the women were expressing support for the Black Lives Matter movement, which grew out of protests over police killings of unarmed black men.
The Army Times, which first wrote about the photo Thursday, said several readers had written in to say they believed the cadets were breaching a Defense Department policy that says “members on active duty should not engage in partisan political activity,” with exceptions for voting and certain other things.
But Mary Tobin, a West Point graduate and mentor who knows the students, said they were simply celebrating their forthcoming graduation as a shared accomplishment, like a sports team raising helmets after a win.
“It was a sign of unity,” Tobin, a 2003 graduate, said by phone. “They weren’t trying to imply any allegiance to any movement.”
The raised fist has served as a symbol of power and resistance for various political movements and causes. The gesture has caused controversy before, including when black American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos lifted gloved fists in black power salutes during a medal ceremony at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
Yet the cadets, immersed in the insulated and demanding environment of West Point, didn’t anticipate how their gesture would be interpreted and the attention it would draw, said Tobin, who has spoken with them about it.
“Their frame of reference is: ‘Right now, we’re getting ready to graduate in three weeks, I’m standing here with my sisters …. We outlasted a lot of people, black or white, male or female,’ ” she said.
Black women cadets are rarities at West Point, where about 70 percent of students are white and about 80 percent are men, although the percentage of women has been growing in recent starting classes.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Kick um out
I always thought, when those two so-called American sprinters did that, at the medal ceremony, they should have been stripped right off the podium, and the next finishers promoted, then and there. If they’re so ashamed or so militant about their privileged position in America, they should have been booted out of the country.
You can bet that the Naval Academy would not stand for this BS. You can see the hate on a couple of their faces. So picked on…free education from one of the best colleges in the world. They even get paid to go there. To them, only black lives matter, not American lives. Go to another country and see if you have it so well. Grow up! But not as an officers, you
threw that away.
Let’s just think back to the 1968 Olympics and remove them from their uniforms and the academy NOW! This points out they are NOT true Americans nor military but the usual trash.
Any affiliation with hate groups in this country or anywhere else such as the KKK, black panthers, black lives matter, etc should be reason for dismissal. There is no place in our society for groups of thugs, criminals, lawbreakers, murders and such like. It is barbaric and against what we stand for.
This should not have a blind eye and a wink of dismissal. The fist is a prominent sign of militant hate groups in this county that have committed crimes against innocent citizens for absolutely no reason other than hate for a persons color or creed. This should be denounced from the highest level, with consequences.
How sad.
Feels very un-American to me!!
Totally inappropriate! !
This was NOT a celebration. Look at the woman on the far right in the bottom row. Her face says it all. If that were not enough, Notice it is all right fists…same sign as Beyonce. Don’t spin this WP or you will lose all credibility for this once proud school.
This is conduct unbecoming pure and simple. I would not want my child led into battle by any of these women.
If these cadets had been aware of the clenched fist symbolism, they may not have used it. The gesture has long been used by the communists and other left-wing groups. It is a symbol of rebellion and resistance to the established order. I think that, given these women will be army officers sworn to defend the Constitution and the United States of America, the gesture was inappropriate and ill-advised.
Perhaps the key word in all of this, is the word; AWARE. They sure aren’t old enough to have been around during the long-ago Olympics, (& I do agree they should’ve been deposed of their awards on the spot). And maybe they are young enough to not consider their actions within their military contexts. But I have seen absolutely nothing, except the few words expressed in this one AP article, of their ‘meaning’ of simply unity in their success! An indication, I think, of the history of the AP’s bent, considering that they were the initial source for the info. ( This is the second release I have seen). Upon seeing the initial story, the first thing I thought was; ” Did anyone ask THEM, what it was about?” Maybe there’s just too much focus on the crap news of today & we’re forgetting that a team gesture could well be JUST a team gesture ? Let’s be not so quick to judge where there ‘may’ be nothing to judge-it’s lately turned into plain ol’ prejudicial nonsense that feeds the hateful. Let’s give each other a break, ‘fer God’s sake!
This is absurd!
Anyone who has run a race, played a game, or even cheered for their team who won has pumped their fist in the air! It is a universal sign of solidarity, not a political movement. My friends & I did the same at our graduation decades ago. This group of young, dedicated people survived one of our Country’s most riggorous educational programs. Now they will serve to protect and defend our lives, our families, our homes. HOW DARE YOU sully their accomplishments by your own twisted agenda! People like those trying to destroy the lives of the rise honorable young graduates are the reason we have as many foreign enemies as we do domestic! Those issuing this “investigation” owe these students, their families and our country a grave apology and should be FIRED! If this is how they treat our children and future defenders, we are all doomed. I am sure I can speak for my family and many other fellow citizens when I say to these students: “Congratulations to you and your families! Good luck & godspeed. Thank you for all you will do for The United States of America!”
Peace.
A bunch of black,female cadets pumped their fists in the air.It looked to me that they were extremely happy and proud of their accomplishment.Why shouldn’t they be.I’m an old white guy and I was happy for them. Why do so many people like to mad when there is nothing to get mad about?
Those are not fist pumps. Google a few pictures of the black panthers and black lives matter. That is their typical salutes and they are both hate groups.
Everyone assumes it’s a black power thing. Maybe they are just saying they are powerful cadets in a man’s world.
Those are not the faces of joy and being proud of accomplishment. The raised fists symbolizes anger and control. They should be stripped of uniform and not allowed to graduate. Too much of this garbage is overlooked and allowed to continue.
Down with the fist and out the door without uniform.
If they had jubilant smiles on their faces I might be willing to dismiss these “fist pumps” as celebratory. However, they all have somber looks of defiance on their faces, so I would not interpret these to be anything but an act of defiance and solidarity for groups like BLM and the new Black Panthers. It saddens me, because going to an Academy like West Point is an absolute privilege and so many young men and women would have loved to be in their place!
A sad Display of Ungrateful, Disgusting, & Inappropriate behavior that should be addressed for what it is. Pure & simple . . . . it is continuing evidence that we are producing an element in our society that literally hates all that all who are protected, educated, and chosen to honor, protect, and defend the freedoms that this nation was built on and defended by the millions who have gone before them, are now the very ones who are causing serious doubt in the heart minds & souls in America, as our founders who did so much to produce of what is beautiful in what not only they, but the Good Lord has done for us as a God-fearing nation. It won’t be too long before our enemies will not be forth coming from outside our borders but from within!
I’ve stated what I believe has been stated in your “News” listing and since it has been noted as “Not be published”, I consider my posting as being challenged as being too brash & true! Sorry, that’s my opinion!
Disgusting! I would have expected the US Military to be the last place this would have occurred. They made us take down the Confederate flag, there never was a Civil War, anfd they have to re-bury Confederate Generals behind building. And whoa if your city has a street named after anything or anybody Southern. It’s probably not there anymore. I find this disgraceful! Not from our black female cadets….
I agree with the “Black Lives Matter” campaign BUT I feel that the TV and newspapers
should also show the almost daily shootings of unarmed WHITE people by the police.
About a year ago, in Queens, NY, a disoriented, UNARMED, 28 year old man was gunned down with
his back turned after leaving a bar (after causing a minor disturbance).
It barely made the local newspaper, much less the TV. The man was killed on the spot!
…These are not “celebration” fist pumps.,…the “kill my landlord” looks on their faces looks exactly like an old photo of the Black Panthers, and their militant, defiant, fist in the air denoted solidarity, strength, and resolve.,…Which is fine for civilians., and though I agree with many of their beliefs, West Point is not the place to demonstrate your desire to “over come” anything.,…I may be wrong, but aren’t West Pointers under the Uniform Code of Military Justice?,…”Free Speech” does not apply to those in the military.,…I wouldn’t expel them, but they should be written up, or whatever they do there for breaking the rules., anyone who can make it through to graduation at West Point are very exceptional people., “Honor” is number one at West Point., these women ARE honorable.,…maybe THEY should be asked what they meant by the photo., I do not think they would be deceptive in their answers., West Pointers don’t play that way.
The long grey line. I’m sure they scored high on their entrance exams. I’m sure they didn’t jump the list over higher scoring candidates. Right?