[Timpanagos1]

“know. Making political statements in uniform is also not allowed. People doing the latter (if that was their point) might also have been doing the former, but it seems improbable.”

A fist in the air may be a political statement or it may not be a political statement. Thus, there defense will be “we were not making a political statement.”

It would be difficult to prove it was a political statement and almost impossible to prove what political statement they were making.

[Tax-chick]

It would be difficult to prove it was a political statement and almost impossible to prove what political statement they were making.

I agree. The raised fist could just indicate, "Aren't we great!?!" or something to that effect. However, their comments on Facebook or other sites, along with the picture, may give more information.

[kabar]

Did you read the article?

John Burk, a former soldier turned motivational coach and fitness guru accused the 16 cadets of aligning themselves with the "Black Lives Matter" movement, claiming the seniors have been anonymously standing up for themselves on Yik Yak.

The students below in the picture have been making their voices heard more and more behind closed doors to senior ranking officers, until now. This overt display of the black lives matter movement is not, in itself wrong, but to do so while in uniform is completely unprofessional and not in keeping with what the USMA stands for, and as well as violating the DOD directive 1344.10.

The raised clenched fist is clearly a black lives matter or black power salute.

[octex]

It would be difficult to prove it was a political statement and almost impossible to prove what political statement they were making.
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I recall when three black US Olympic track stars won G, S and B medals for one event. After getting their medals they posed for photos, while holding their right arms straight up and with clenched fists. ....That caused an uproar, because that was the symbol of the “black power” movement of the time.