Thread: Female West Point cadets investigated after being pictured giving 'Black Lives Matter

Female West Point cadets investigated after being pictured giving 'Black Lives Matter' salute while in uniform

Sixteen members of West Point class of 2016 pictured giving fist salute

Women pictured outside Central Barracks wearing their West Point uniform

Image appears to violate strict codes on displaying political signs

Military blogger claims women are associated with Black Lives Matter

Said other cadets fear speaking out against the group in case they are disciplined or expelled themselves for upsetting them

By CHRIS PLEASANCE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM PUBLISHED: 14:15 GMT, 6 May 2016 | UPDATED: 18:09 GMT, 6 May 2016

West Point officers are investigating after a picture of 16 female cadets wearing uniform while raising their fists in an apparent 'Black Lives Matter' salute began circulating online.

The controversial image appears to violate strict codes on displaying political signs while in uniform or on military property, meaning the cadets could be expelled from the prestigious college, in upstate New York.

A spokesman for West Point confirmed that the women in the picture are part of the school's class of 2016, adding that 'officials are conducting an inquiry into the matter.'

West Point officers are investigating after 16 female cadets were pictured outside the academny's Central
Barracks wearing uniform while giving what appears to be a 'Black Lives Matter' salute

Department of Defense directives state that: 'A member of the Armed forces shall not display a partisan political sign, poster, banner, or similar device visible to the public at one’s residence on a military installation, even if that residence is part of a privatized housing development.'

No further details on the image have been released, the women in the photograph have not been identified, and it is not known why or when the picture was taken.

The image appears to have been taken outside West Point's historic Central Barracks, built in the mid 19th century.

It came to light on Wednesday after multiple people sent it to the Army Times after being concerned by the women's behavior.

John Burk, a former soldier turned fitness guru who claims to have sources inside West Point, said the girls have affiliated themselves with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Burk claims the women have been making their political views known at the academy via an anonymous messaging app called Yik Yak.

West Point cadets are subject to strict Department of Defense directives that prohibit them from displaying 'a
partisan political sign, poster, banner, or similar device' while in uniform or on military property (file image)

Burk also says that other students are afraid of standing up to the women for fear of being forced to repeat a year or even kicked out of the college themselves.

He says an anonymous source told him: 'It’s a really touchy subject here. We can get kicked out of West Point, or forced to repeat years for what is called a “respect board.”

'They can be given for just making someone upset, so no one wants to get kicked out of college and lose their commission over something like this.

'Especially since a white man, in this situation, is already at a disadvantage when a conversation like this starts. It’s purely political.'

An article Burk posted to Facebook has attracted hundreds of comments including Leea Huff, who wrote: 'I wholeheartedly agree.

'When you join any branch of the military, you work as a team to accomplish a goal, regardless of color, not to one-up another person of race or creed and if you can't do that, then step down.'

However, Peter K Roberts disagreed, saying: 'Every troop is a product of their leadership.

'This shows that leadership, in both and West Point and the military as a whole, is lacking and needs to be corrected.'

The raised fist gesture was commonly associated with the Black Power movement of the Sixties and Seventies
, and has been adopted by modern Black Lives Matter protesters (file image)

While the raised fist salute has been used by multiple protest movements throughout history, it is perhaps most commonly associated with the Black Power movement of the Sixties and Seventies.

The gesture was famously given by gold and bronze medal winners Tommie Smith and John Carlos during the medal ceremony for the 200m race at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

The symbol of a raised fist against a star background was also adopted to represent the Black Power movement.

In more recent years the gesture has been adopted by Black Lives Matter activists and is commonly given at rallies held across the country.

Beyonce caused controversy during her halftime performance at Super Bowl 50 after her backing dancers gave the same salute while dressed in costumes referencing the Black Panther movement.

Several of those dancers were later pictured holding a banner saying 'Justice 4 Mario Woods', a black man shot dead by police in San Francisco, while giving the same raised fist gesture.

Female West Point cadets investigated after being pictured giving 'Black Lives Matter' salute while in uniform

The "protesters " do not , nor should they, receive any special treatment. They knowingly broke the rules and traditions of the Military Academy. They should all be expelled immediately . They should also be required to reimburse the taxpayers for all costs of their education.

Originally Posted by JohnK

The "protesters " do not , nor should they, receive any special treatment. They knowingly broke the rules and traditions of the Military Academy. They should all be expelled immediately . They should also be required to reimburse the taxpayers for all costs of their education.

I wish they fail on their final course to become any army employees i guess this is all they could be a civilian in army if you're not giving 100% faith to your country you're wurst of nothing and you can just make dangerous and wrong move for others safety any time and if i was their instructor i will give them hell that they kick resign to go back to their BLM

Boot them ALL out. They have already proven they cannot, and will not, become a part of the team of the US Military!

They have segregated their own selves from the rest of the pack. I hope their instructors make their life a living hell.