The 120th Army-Navy game ended with the Midshipmen defeating the Black Knights by a final of 31-7. This ends Army’s three year win streak in this rivalry game. As President Donald Trump participated in the coin toss and received what was an apparently large round of applause from fans at Lincoln Financial Field, the tradition of this incredible rivalry seemed to be in full swing.
But the big story coming out of yesterday’s game is that both Army and Navy academies are looking into possible hand signs that were flashed by students that could be associated with “white power.” Both sides, West Point and Naval Academy cadets, seemed to participate in this act which was broadcast during the game.
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School officials for both sides are now investigating the meaning of the hand signals and what they sought to convey.
“We’re looking into it. I don’t know what their intention is,” said Lt. Col. Chris Ophardt. Ophardt is a spokesperson for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Spokesperson for the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Cmdr. Alana Garas said, “We are aware and will be looking into it.”
The signal in question is that of the “Ok” sign, but the Anti-Defamation League has said that lately it’s use has been the subject of an extremist meme.
An ADL posts reads, “The overwhelming usage of the ‘okay’ hand gesture today is still its traditional purpose as a gesture signifying assent or approval. As a result, someone who uses the symbol cannot be assumed to be using the symbol in either a trolling or, especially, white supremacist context unless other contextual evidence exists to support the contention.”
This comes on the heels of controversy surrounding the motto the Black Knights football team portrayed on their flag. The abbreviation “GFBD” was pasted under a skull and cross bones. “God forgives, brothers don’t” was linked to white supremacy groups and Army has since removed the letters and is in the process of a new motto for it’s team.
