FILE – In this Dec. 14, 2019 file photo, Navy midshipmen march onto field ahead of an NCAA college football game between the Army and the Navy in Philadelphia. A military investigation finds that hand gestures used by cadets and midshipmen during the Army-Navy game broadcast had nothing to do with white supremacy. The investigation, which included interviews and background checks, determined that two freshmen were taking part in a “sophomoric” game that had “no racist intent.” (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Over the weekend, folks in media and on the lefts accused cadets and midshipmen of flashing “white power” signs during the Army-Navy game.
Folks on social media trashed these young men who signed up to defend them and the country, smearing them, calling them racists, with even some people suggesting they be doxxed and identified.
Complaints then poured into West Point and Annapolis with calls that the young students be expelled.
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy released the findings of their investigation today.
They’ve concluded their look into the matter and say it was the “circle game” and had nothing to do with “white supremacy,” as anyone who had any sense already knew at the time.
The U.S. Military Academy announced today it has concluded an internal investigation of the cadets who displayed hand gestures during a broadcast of ESPN College GameDay at the Army-Navy game Dec. 14
— U.S. Military Academy at West Point (@WestPoint_USMA) December 20, 2019
The investigating officer concluded that the cadets were playing a common game, popular among teenagers today, known as the “circle game” and the intent was not associated with ideologies or movements that are contrary to the Army values.
— U.S. Military Academy (@WestPoint_USMA) December 20, 2019
“We investigated this matter thoroughly,” said Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams, 60th superintendent, #USMA. “Last Saturday we had reason to believe these actions were an innocent game and not linked to extremism, but we must take allegations such as these very seriously."
— U.S. Military Academy (@WestPoint_USMA) December 20, 2019
"We are disappointed by the immature behavior of the cadets," said Williams.
— U.S. Military Academy (@WestPoint_USMA) December 20, 2019
The investigator found that the game was being played in the stands before the ESPN host moved into the crowd. Based on the results of the investigation, those cadets involved will receive appropriate administrative and/or disciplinary actions.
— U.S. Military Academy (@WestPoint_USMA) December 20, 2019
“We develop leaders of character who serve to defend our nation and the American people, and we expect our cadets to lead and live honorably and demonstrate excellence. Leading and living honorably means to act in a professional manner at all times,” Williams said.
— U.S. Military Academy (@WestPoint_USMA) December 20, 2019
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point's mission remains constant—to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country.
— U.S. Military Academy (@WestPoint_USMA) December 20, 2019
Here’s their full release.
Here’s the 15-6 investigative report:
🚨🚨🚨: West Point releases their findings into the hand gestures made at the Army/Navy games. The school says the cadets were playing the circle game and NOT making white power symbols. pic.twitter.com/KpP89str1v
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 20, 2019
They even used the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service to interview the students. Imagine being put through that because you played a game that has been played for decades in the military?
Yet this trended on Twitter and went everywhere as a national news story because folks on the left and in media declared “racism” where it didn’t exist. Can we now expect any apologies from the people in media who libeled these students? Don’t bet on it. They didn’t learn their lesson with the Covington Catholic kids and wouldn’t here.
Townhall’s senior writer (and U.S. Marine) Julio Rosas pointed out a few examples of people/media smearing the cadets.
Now that the report concludes what non-hysterical people knew all along, here's a thread of people/media places smearing the cadets by jumping to conclusions: pic.twitter.com/gqedUEnfyC
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 20, 2019
Some of these tweets got thousands of RTs and likes off of accusing our future military leaders of being white supremacists. It's shameful: (2/X) pic.twitter.com/00phRA6uLB
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 20, 2019
(3/X) pic.twitter.com/BjObExHVVl
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 20, 2019
(4/X) pic.twitter.com/GJ6GIFY11U
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 20, 2019
(5/X) pic.twitter.com/ZbWlSuruol
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 20, 2019
Last one for now but this one is insane. New York Magazine included the Army/Navy game incident with ACTUAL hate crimes that occurred this year, including the El Paso and Gilroy shootings. Completely irresponsible.https://t.co/NNOgmRB36N pic.twitter.com/L8lgmpIH80
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 20, 2019
While the military certainly has the right to set the standards and West Point cadets and Annapolis midshipmen are held to a higher standard, they’re also at a football game where they’re having a rare chance to have a little fun. That fun with a game that has existed for decades. So if media suddenly declares jogging a symbol of “white power” then should people stop jogging? How about not giving racists or trolls the power to demonize and appropriate perfectly normal actions and symbols, and looking at intent and facts?
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