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

Yes.

All hell didn't break loose

So what does this picture say? What I see is a bunch proud cadets.

The only problem I see, in this discussion, is how many people give a shit. Whoopity doo! We've seen rebel flags, Mexican banners, throwing duce's and everything else. What's the big deal here? I don't personally see a political statement? Perhaps in light of current events it wasn't the best decision to be made, but then I'm back to; why does anyone give a shit.

Whether you like it or not the cadets have been cleared. An investigation was done and they have been cleared. Let get on with our lives and allow them to get on with their careers. You better believe they learned something value from this event.

Not at all! 1st, I see the picture and I see pride and success. Sure, we see what we want to see. However, I'd like everyone who views this photo negatively to think for a moment what it might be like to be in their shoes. Let's take off our biases, preconceived notions about how things should be and imagine for a moment what it would be like to be at West Point, and understand how things are in society in general. Now you're a black woman at West Point, formerly an all male institution. Now imagine being subjected to the same standards as every other cadet and at the same time being ridiculed about your hair, your color, hints that you only got there because you were a minority, some affirmative action program, and not because of academic excellence, high moral character and athletic achievement. On top of this add some sexual undertones, jokes and innuendos. I hope I'm having some impact, but I know there are those who will be ready to cast stones. I certainly wasn't there, and I'd like to believe these things never happen anywhere, but many of you know because you've seen and experienced it yourselves. If these young women were any other race there would be no discussion. I hope it is getting better for women in the military, but women of color have a few more unseen and unacknowledged obstacles to overcome and these women did that. Celebrate and join them in their achievement.

There was no trial - only an administrative inquiry - no rules, regulations, or policies were violated - the matter is being dropped without penalty. Warmest Regards, Sandy

http://www.westpoint.edu/news/Shared%20Documents/Supt%20Letter.pdf

I would suggest that all participating in this discussion read the following in regard to the inquiry. The preliminary inquiry report - http://www.usma.edu/news/Shared%20Documents/Redacted%20Inquiry%20Results.pdf
The USMA Superintendent"s letter - http://www.westpoint.edu/news/Shared%20Documents/Supt%20Letter.pdf
The USMA news release - http://www.westpoint.edu/news/Shared%20Documents/WEST%20POINT%20PHOTO%20INQUIRY%20CLEARS%20CADETS.pdf
Then read the Army Times article - http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2016/05/10/west-point-cadet-photo-inappropriate-but-not-political/84196326/

Bottom line is that it was deemed inappropriate and some of the participants knew it to be inappropriate. What disturbs me about the comments is that the one cadet understood that it may be so, and stated to the group "this isn't an EO violation and we won't get in trouble for it." So one or more knew that this could easily be taken as a violation.

What further disturbs me after having read the inquiry that they made the statement that this was a gesture of "unity, solidarity, and pride", and the raised fist used for that reason, makes me wonder. Are the cadets of West Point are so closed off from current events in both the civilian and military communities, that these soon to be commissioned officers do not know or understand that their actions and statement/s are directly reflective of both the Civil Rights and LGBT movements?

Unfortunately I believe that the spin placed on this by the institution of the USMA, will be difficult for some (including myself) after reading the open report to believe that they (the cadets) did not understand the implication of their statement.

The fact this is an issue outside USMA is in and of itself an issue. As LTG Caslen himself points out, cadets have shown the raised fist in many contexts in uniform in the past, so to single these ladies out for unique treatment would be disingenuous. In the end, proper outcome and a lesson these ladies and many others will never forget.

"As members of the Profession of Arms, we are held to a high standard, where our actions are constantly observed and scrutinized in the public domain. We all must understand that a symbol or gesture that one group of people may find harmless may offend others. As Army officers, we are not afforded the luxury of a lack of awareness of how we are perceived."
LTG Robert L. Caslen Jr., Superintendent, United States Military Academy.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/10/us/west-point-cadets-photo/index.html