Pentagon Faces Backlash Over Removal of Jackie Robinson Military History Webpage
The Department of Defense has taken down a webpage detailing Jackie Robinson’s Army service, raising concerns about historical erasure as part of the Trump administration’s DEI policy rollback.
- The webpage highlighted Jackie Robinson’s military service, including his refusal to comply with segregation on an Army bus, his court-martial, and subsequent acquittal.
- The removal aligns with an executive order issued by President Trump earlier this year to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content across federal agencies.
- Critics, including civil rights advocates and commentators, have accused the Department of Defense of erasing significant historical contributions by minority groups.
- The Department of Defense has not provided a clear explanation for the removal, and other webpages honoring minority and women service members have also been taken down in recent weeks.
- The removal appears inconsistent with Trump’s prior praise of Jackie Robinson, whom he described as a national hero and included in plans for a National Garden of American Heroes.