Pentagon officials made a puzzling move that has Americans questioning the Defense Department’s true priorities. The temporary removal of a webpage honoring baseball legend Jackie Robinson’s military service comes amid sweeping changes to diversity-related content across government websites. But it turns out it was just a mistake, and the media made a huge deal out of it.
At a glance:
- Pentagon temporarily removed a webpage about Jackie Robinson’s military service amid DEI content purge
- The page was part of the “Sports Heroes Who Served” series and initially redirected to a “Page Not Found” URL
- Robinson faced court martial for refusing to move to the back of an Army bus but was acquitted
- The Defense Department claims it honors individuals for patriotism, not race or ethnicity
- The Pentagon restored Robinson’s page along with content about Black Medal of Honor recipient Major General Charles Calvin Rogers
Military History Erased Then Restored
The Department of Defense temporarily scrubbed a webpage honoring Jackie Robinson’s military career as part of a broader purge of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) content from government websites. The move came in compliance with an Executive Order aiming to reduce DEI promotion across federal agencies. President Trump has vowed to remove “wokeness” from the military and the broader federal government.
The webpage was part of the popular “Sports Heroes Who Served” series and initially redirected users to a frustrating “Page Not Found” error message. After significant public backlash, the Pentagon quietly restored the page and attempted to downplay the controversy surrounding its removal – but there’s no evidence that the mistake was anything more than a simple mistake.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot issued a statement claiming the Defense Department honors individuals for their patriotism and service rather than based on race or ethnicity. Critics responded saying the explanation rings hollow considering Robinson’s story cannot be properly told without acknowledging the racial barriers he overcame in military service and professional sports.
Robinson’s Military Challenges
Jackie Robinson was drafted into the Army in 1942 during World War II and served in a segregated unit. He made a stance against racism and segregation when he refused to move to the back of an Army bus, resulting in a court martial.
Mr. Robinson was ultimately acquitted of all charges, but his admirers say the incident demonstrated his commitment to equal treatment years before he would go on to tackle baseball’s color barriers.
