The U.S Military Academy and Naval Academy have launched separate investigations into possible “white power” hand gestures flashed by a few students at the Army-Navy football game.
What We Know:
- According to ABC News, “The U.S Military Academy and Naval Academy have appointed officers to conduct separate internal investigations into possible ‘white power’ hand gestures flashed by a few students during a broadcast at the Army-Navy football game.”
- Several West Point cadets and Naval Academy midshipmen in the stands appeared to display the hand sign during an ESPN broadcast segment Saturday.
- The hand sign is similar to the one used to indicate “OK” with the thumb and the forefinger in a circle and the three other fingers splayed out behind. Extremists had adopted the symbol as an expression of white supremacy fooling others into thinking the symbol meant “OK” but in reality they formed the letters “W” and “P” which stands for white power.
- “The sign is also used in what is known as the “circle game” wherein someone flashes the hand symbol with the foal of tricking someone into looking at it. If they do that person gets punched in the arm.”
- The spokeswoman for the academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Cmd. Alana Garas said, “It would be inappropriate to speculate any further while we are conducting this investigation.”
The U.S Military Academy has yet to determine the intent behind the symbol, but is conducting further investigations. Black News Alerts will keep you updated with more information.