The US Department of Defense webpage describing baseball legend Jackie Robinson’s military service was removed earlier Wednesday, only to be restored later in the day. The page, which includes biographical information about Robinson’s Army service during World War II, had its address changed with the added letters “dei,” indicating it may have been moved or renamed temporarily.
The removal of the webpage followed a larger purge of content honoring women and minority groups, including pages celebrating Black Medal of Honor recipient Army Maj. Gen. Charles Calvin Rogers and Japanese American service members. The Pentagon claimed that removing such content was part of its campaign to eliminate “DEI” – an acronym for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
However, critics argue that the purge is misguided and aimed at erasing the contributions of women and minority groups. David Robinson, son of Jackie Robinson and a board member of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, expressed surprise and disappointment over the removal of his father’s page.
“We take great pride in Jackie Robinson’s service to our country as a soldier and sports hero,” he said. “His courage, talent, strength of character, and dedication contributed greatly to leveling the playing field not only in professional sports but throughout society.”
Pentagon press secretary John Ullyot defended the department’s actions, stating that the goal is to recognize patriotism and dedication without highlighting immutable characteristics such as race or sex. However, critics argue that this approach undermines the very principles of DEI, which aim to promote equality and inclusivity.
In a statement, Ullyot described DEI as “Discriminatory Equity Ideology,” claiming it divides the force and erodes unit cohesion.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/jackie-robinson-defense-department-webpage-beed0c8883e7a31af0d9a71615cc643d