West Point and Annapolis officials are investigating after several cadets and midshipmen were seen flashing what appeared to be a “white power” hand gesture during the broadcast of the annual Army-Navy football game on Saturday (Dec. 14).
“We’re looking into it,” Lt. Col. Chris Ophardt, a West Point spokesman, told the Wall Street Journal. “I don’t know what their intention is.” Because the gesture is similar to the “okay” symbol in which a person makes a circle with their thumb and index finger and extends their other three fingers, it can be difficult to determine the intended meaning behind it.
Let’s make them go viral. Retweet.
This happened on national television today. These two felt like it was okay to put up a white power symbol on national tv. Mind you, they are apart of the navy. #ArmyNavy pic.twitter.com/SdkCTJ0vhK
— Hamdia Ahmed (@hamdia_ahmed) December 14, 2019
Please someone tell me I didn’t see what I thought I just saw? #ArmyNavy #ESPN white power sign? pic.twitter.com/QxL7dNmNKN
— NiniMusic (@NeoSoul87) December 14, 2019
The Anti-Defamation League points out that the ambiguity — and thus, plausible deniability — is exactly why it was embraced by alt-right extremists. However, it adds that people shouldn’t jump to conclusions. “Because of the traditional meaning of the ‘OK’ hand gesture, as well as other usages unrelated to white supremacy, particular care must be taken not to jump to conclusions about the intent behind someone who has used the gesture,” the Anti-Defamation League said.
An Annapolis spokeswoman told the Journal that the academy will be looking into the gesture as well. “We are aware and will be looking into it,” spokeswoman Cmdr. Alana Garas said.
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