The Army is upset because a bunch of black women raised their fists in a photo

I think the Caucasian male equivalent is the KKK. I think the gap between older and younger generations play into it also. People who were around when the black panther party see it different than young people who only have second hand knowledge.

Obviously not and the males would have been severely disciplined no matter what their message. The demonstration by these particular cadets was a deliberate in-your-face tail-twister designed to push the envelope of acceptable behavior esp in the USMA setting. They and many others ingeniously coopted a long standing symbol of support and solidarity in a struggle against oppression or suppression and turned it into what is a very well known and offensive symbol to many many people. Trying to turn the middle finger salute into a peace sign just won't work either.

If a group of white males did it then no, it still wouldn't be okay. A better comparison would be to ask if a group of white males held out flat palms in which case even still it wouldn't be. This group of females decided to make a gesture that is used and has been used in the past by controversial political and radical groups and they did it in uniform none the less. They should receive some form of punishment as a result because that kind of behavior, especially being made public by posting the picture is completely unacceptable from candidates of such a highly respected military college and the U.S. military in general.