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Army officials condemn West Point grad for pro-Kaepernick tweets

The US Army has condemned the actions of a West Point grad and current infantry officer who has been posting pro-communism messages on social media as a show of support for Colin Kaepernick.

In one of his most recent posts, Second Lt. Spenser Rapone can be seen wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt under his military uniform.

In another, he holds up a fist and points his cap toward the camera — showing the words “Communism will win” scrawled on the inside.

“#VeteransForKaepernick,” Rapone wrote in the now-viral tweet, which was posted Sunday amid the NFL’s headline-grabbing national anthem protests.

The post prompted Army officials to open an investigation Tuesday after it sparked widespread outrage on social media.

“Hey @realDonaldTrump, can you pass this along to Secretary Mattis? He might want to know about open Communists in the ranks,” wrote one Twitter user.





“West Point cadets are under contract with the DoD,” another said in response. “This is a punishable offense under the UCMJ [Uniform Code of Military Justice]. Making political statements while in uniform.”

Army officials issued a statement Tuesday condemning Rapone’s actions.

“The U.S. Military Academy strives to develop leaders who internalize the academy’s motto of Duty, Honor, Country, and who live the Army values. Second Lieutenant Rapone’s actions in no way reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Army,” the statement said.

“As figures of public trust, members of the military must exhibit exemplary conduct, and are

prohibited from engaging in certain expressions of political speech in uniform. Second Lieutenant Rapone’s chain of command is aware of his actions and is looking into the matter. The academy is prepared to assist the officer’s chain of command as required.”





After his photo supporting Kaepernick went viral, Rapone appeared to mock the ensuing outrage.

“In case there was any lingering doubt, hasta la victoria siempre,” Rapone tweeted Monday, attaching the photo showing the Guevara shirt. The latter Spanish phrase translates as “Ever onward to victory” and was a favorite of Guevara’s. It was also the title of a 1997 movie about Guevara’s life.

The infantry officer has never been one to shy away from his political views.

He has admitted being a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and has even posted pictures showing his membership card — alongside his military name patch.

“Let there be no doubt that we have unequivocal solidarity with and pride in Spenser. He’s an exceptional soldier,” the Twitter account, @DSAVeterans, wrote Tuesday.





The DSA’s Veterans Working Group, of which Rapone is a member, also offered support to him in a statement.

“Spenser Rapone is our comrade and we fully support, defend, and encourage him to take whatever steps he sees necessary to express his political beliefs and continue to organize towards a socialist future,” the group said.

Rapone has displayed his pro-communism views in many different ways — posting selfies with “The Communist Manifesto” by Karl Marx and pictures of One World Trade Center with a red star on the top of its spire.

He has previously complained about the military reifying “capitalism/imperialism with a brutally hierarchical rank structure.”

“Was an 11B 2010-2012, and am an 11A now, and can say lifers, senior NCOs and field grades lust for war and conflict,” Rapone tweeted back in July. “They fetishize violence.”





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