The US Department of Defense has restored a story about Jackie Robinson’s military service on its website after initially deleting it as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to purge references to diversity, equity and inclusion from government websites.
In a statement, Press Secretary John Ullyot said that the Department of Defense values the patriotism and dedication of service members, regardless of their background. He clarified that removing content does not mean erasing history, but rather ensuring it is presented in a way that respects all Americans.
The story on Robinson’s service was among several scrubbed from government websites in recent days. However, it has been restored with its original URL. The Department of Defense removed other stories about sports heroes who served, including those about Navajo Code Talkers and Ira Hayes, but also reestablished some sites.
Robinson, a second lieutenant in the US Army during World War II, broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947. His story is part of the Department of Defense’s “Sports Heroes Who Served” series, which aims to honor the contributions of service members who have made a significant impact on American sports history.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44316899/defense-department-removes-story-robinson-military-service