Do you believe that these West Point first classman are violating the UCMJ by making a political statement while in uniform?

I wonder if they understand the magnitude of their offense? What particular reg are they violating and are all the "elements of the offense" present? It does seem wacky that these cadets get a pass on this when a respected general (Boykin) can get un-relenting flak for speaking at a church in uniform about what are his PERSONAL beliefs. I even recall a minor shitstorm when a compo 2 or 3 soldier went to downtown Columbia [near Ft Jackson] to show support to the Occupy Columbia squatters. She even spoke to media and voiced her approval.
Here unfortunately I think there are any number of things the clenched black power "fascist fist" salute could potentially represent. I think had these been white males making any kind of Sieg Heil stiff armed salute things would be much different. But if you hammer these women too harshly you likely face an EO accusation for bias bigotry against African American women. Was their intent that this picture be widely disseminated?

Yeah, you're right, MSG (Join to see), there is a lot of tap dancing. There always is on issues like this if you stand on one side of the fence. My take is...If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, you can bet your sweet bippy that it's a duck!!! For decades in this country, there have been two sets of rules for civil decorum in this country. The time has long since past when a whole bunch of somebodies need to stop dancing "around" the Sombrero!!!

don't know if this has been said, but I'm going to say it. If this was a group of white cadets, we would be seeing this compared to the Nazi salute and they would be being called racists.....

They screwed up! This is not conducive to good order and discipline. They are training to become Army Officers. They just lost that opportunity. This should not be tolerated. This is an example of what not to do in uniform. As a retired Officer, I feel that the Academy has failed if they let these Cadets get away with this. Kids or not, Officers or Enlisted, this is not how Soldiers carry themselves!

Definitely prejudicial to good order and discipline.

Walt

I this throw this book at them.

Yes they did. Obviously they didn't get the 4 years of the proper conduct of an officer "while in uniform"....bye bye

Not per say but are close to the line and really shouldn't be engaging in this activity. As a Senior FGO best advice I got in Command leadership school has been if you got to ask more than once about whether its right or will be called into question then you probably shouldn't do it. The fact that two pics were taken (as confirmed in a similar article in Washington Post - one with the fists upraised and one without) suggest that there may have been some question as to if this was a good choice. Otherwise why not just have one picture taken and posted for West Point to celebrate this event-their graduation?

As a officer/leaders appearances DO matter and this should not have been "advised" by their mentor especially while in uniform. Unfortunately social medial and reality tv that many millennials embrace is a dual aged sword now a days! They act without thinking and then have their actions spread far beyond the often initial intended reach!

We really shouldn't be looking at this from the here and now.

Will this have an effect on some PFC under one of their command? My guess is that some PFC Smuck will claim that his or her Lieutenant is a racist to get out of some detail or just to spite the Officer.

I won't pretend to know their intentions. However, if it is being interpreted as a political statement, they knew or should have known that was a possibility.