“If you can’t treat someone with dignity and respect–then you need to get out.”-Lt. Gen. Jay B. Silveria, Superintendent @AF_Academy pic.twitter.com/njCktv5Fmp — U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) September 28, 2017

The superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy had a stern talk yesterday with his cadets about a recent racial incident at the preparatory school.

The academy released a statement on Thursday to confirm that five black students found “Go Home” and racial slurs written on message boards outside their rooms. Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria responded to this by gathering his students for a passionate lecture about how the school will not tolerate discrimination.

“If you can’t treat someone from another gender, whether that’s a man or a woman, with dignity and respect, then you need to get out. If you demean someone in any way, then you need to get out. And if you can’t treat someone from another race or a different color skin with dignity and respect, then you need to get out.”

Silveria continued to say that racist behavior has no place in the Air Force, though he noted that America is still reeling from divisive events like Charlottesville and the NFL’s national anthem protests. He continued by emphasizing the “power of diversity” and the importance of addressing hard issues through civil discourse.

“It’s the power that we come from all walks of life, that we come from all parts of this country, that we come from all races, that we come from all backgrounds, gender, all make-up, all upbringing,” he said. “The power of that diversity comes together and makes us that much more powerful.”

Watch above, via U.S. Air Force.

[Image via screengrab]

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