"We Were Terrorizing Some of the Most Exploited People on Earth" The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006, West Point said in a statement released Tuesday. On March 23, 2014, Rapone posted about anti-corporatism and racism. [from Resolution #34] Amplify the perspectives & insights of impacted communities through national media platforms. Can you describe the backlash you experienced afterthat? The GNDCC will make direct connection with The Red Nation, dedicate one person to serve as the main point of contact, and collaborate with the comrades on joint actions, statements and local, national and international campaigns around indigenous liberation and climate justice. Rubio was apart of that cabal of capitalists andcollaborators. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Reception Day marks the first step in a 47-month journey toward becoming an officer in the United States Army. Former Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania told The Daily Caller News Foundation that Rapones long history of extremist tweets, which include calling Mattis an evil, vile f****, is shocking, disappointing and abhorrent. You have permission to edit this article. A Primer for Radicals ITS GOING DOWN. He also reposted a meme from a group called Anarchist People of Color criticizing white privilege., Rapone posted on several forums in support of Chelsea Manning, the Army soldier who went to jail for leaking classified intelligence to WikiLeaks. endobj I have no doubt that the U.S. Army will take appropriate action.. The two appear to have traveled together to the Taj Mahal in March 2014, according to pictures posted on his Facebook page. "While in uniform, Spenser Rapone advocated for communism and political violence, and expressed support and sympathy for enemies of the United States," Rubio said Monday, adding "I'm glad to see that they have given him an 'other-than-honorable' discharge.". As of Friday, his account was public again. Spenser Rapone, 'Communism will win' officer, receives 'other than 45 1,924 <> In the simplest of terms, Ifelt like we were the big bully and the purveyor of violence. Keep it Clean. After the photo garnered widespread attention on Twitter, West Point quickly issued a statement distancing itself from Rapone. US report shows China taking steps toward space dominance, Biden to allow Afghans to stay longer in US, sources say, Michigan expands absentee voting for military members, Some companies charge hefty fees to help vets with disability claims, Meet 12M+, the new community app for military spouses, Your next tech and incoming AI | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 4.28.2023, Home Improvement Loans What are my options? The military website SOFREP reiterated on Thursday that Mr. Rapone was an advocate for the long march through the institutions of power., This [philosophy] entails burrowing inside the institutions of society, including the military, and subverting them from within and ultimately setting the conditions for a communist revolution, wrote Jack Murphy, a former Army Special Operations veteran. He went viral after posting a photo to Twitter of himself in support of professional football player Colin Kaepernick, where Rapone is seen in his West Point uniform at graduation holding his cap that contains a piece of paper that says Communism will win.. Threats of harming another He was nominated out of high school by. As a reader-supported 501(c)3 nonprofit, In These Times does not oppose or endorse candidates for political office. The Communist West Point Grad's Father Isn't too Happy with - RedState Outside of my chain of command, people were threatening and silencing me and Ihad tons of alt-right and neo-fascists sending me death threats. Of the incoming class, 180 were African American, 145 were Hispanic Americans, 99 were Asian Americans and 19 were Native Americans. Several years ago, I met Spenser Rapone when he was a high school student seeking an appointment to West Point, Altmire said. Some of the people who respect the troops are also the ones who most want to privatize the VA. https://t.co/c3SW0QJsBl https://t.co/c3SW0QJsBl, My eyes are seriously about to roll out of the back of my head. University of Texas History Department Hires The West Point "Commie "These young men and women are coming here to devote themselves to becoming guardians of Duty, Honor, Country the West Point motto and our United States Constitution. The academy is prepared to assist the officers chain of command as required.. 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After posting the photo, Rapone was discovered to be a vehement communist propagandist and official socialist organizer of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). But from what Iunderstand about his life, he didnt get to the point where you reached, but was still veryquestioning. It will give them aplatform so they dont have to do this anymoreso they dont have to be acog in the imperialist machineanymore. West Point's Newest Class Has More Minority New Cadets Than - Newsweek Then there was the move to an all-volunteer force and thats interesting because asubstantial number of Vietnam resisters were volunteers. Since the class of 2012, the percentage of women entering West Point increased by about 10 percent, according to data on class characteristics. Among other activities, Soldiers are encouraged to vote in elections and express their personal opinions on public issues. He explained that he took the offending selfies at his May 2016 West Point graduation ceremony and kept them to himself until last September, when he tweeted them in solidarity with NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was taking heat for kneeling for the national anthem to raise awareness of racism. The more important thing is that alot of other veterans and active duty personnel have had similar experiences to me and have come to similar conclusions, if not the same, and Ihope that by speaking out. In another, he raises his fist and flips his cap to reveal the message: "Communism will win." The Army Times reports in 2018: Now through Monday, sign up to become a Sustainer for just $5 a month and you'll receive your choice of one of three booksas well as an ongoing subscriptions (10 issues a year) to the print magazine. There were no red flags of any kind.. <> Spenser is my son and I love him dearly however I do not like nor condone his politics, his actions or behavior., Rapone has a long background of support for far-left extremism, even going so far as to promote communism while in uniform. However, the Army has strict rules regarding the wear and appearance of Army uniforms.. For sure, Pat was abig influence on me. Sometime last year, he posted a picture on Instagram of an Antifa flag in his room next to a print of Che Guevara. Spenser Rapone, the former second lieutenant whose Communism will win photos went viral in 2017, has received an other than honorable discharge from the Army. Both the Department of Defense and the Army have longstanding policies encouraging soldiers to participate in the democratic process. 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, it said. Rapones social media was filled with up to hundreds of posts, messages and photos that were being circulated around the military and civilian communities. We have one of the most technologically advanced militaries of all time and all we were doing is brutalizing and invading and terrorizing a population that had nothing to do with what the United States claimed was a threat.. Most of the guys Iwas witheven and especially the leadershiprelished in the fact that we could kill human beings. According to his bio on the website, Rapone could no longer stomach the immorality of U.S. imperialism, he spoke out against the reprehensible actions of the military in September 2017. Occupation: Organizer: A Critical History of Community Organizing in America, Breaking the Impasse: Electoral Politics, Mass Action, and the New Socialist Movement in the United States, Bigger Than Bernie: How We Can Win Democratic Socialism in Our Time. A review of Rapones Facebook page shows that over time, since 2014, his posts became increasingly anti-racism, anti-Israel, pro-Muslim, pro-Communist, anti-military, and anti-police. Our conversation will be called Resisting Within the Ranks., Spenser Is being discharged from the military with an Other Than Honorable discharge this June, in part, because Maro Rubio penned a panic-stricken letter to acting Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy demanding, Florida Senator Marco Rubio called on the U.S. Army to remove Rapone and make him pay back his tuition for advocating for communism., U.S. Army spokesperson Valerie Mongello had told American Military News that while the Department of Defense and Army encourage soldiers to participate in the democratic process, the Army has strict rules regarding the wear and appearance of Army uniforms., West Point Military Academy had also responded to the situation, and released a statement saying Rapones actions in no way reflect the values of the U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Army., Spenser Rapone (Photos from Social Media, Compiled by American Military News). The two apparently traveled together to India together in 2014 and maintained a close relationship until Rapone graduated in May 2016. And youve heard from other veterans and servicemembers? During the interview, he expressed patriotism and looked just like a top-notch candidate. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism "I would encourage all soldiers who have a conscience to lay down their arms and join me and so many others who are willing to stop serving the agents of imperialism and join us in a revolutionary movement. Be Nice. Spenser Rapone is a former Army Ranger and Infantry Officer who resigned his commission in June 2018 due to his opposition to United States imperialism. We'd love to hear eyewitness On August 7, Rapone posted a photo on his Instagram account of himself in his Army uniform wearing a Democratic Socialists of America Membership card that says, official socialist organizer.. Template:TOCnestleft Spenser Rapone was like acharacter who stepped out of aBruce Springsteen song. hJHICB&Y'8erMr=31yfk|17~c}\T_* 9?V{9,'Y\%?MX}'ZI#B?9`V;&sI$nx6/ 2S&D#K2:3+5,YSa1a"7'+ZvvYnzlJScC)f$':AIR1>?"b Spenser Rapone, the former Army second lieutenant whose "Communism will win" photos went viral in 2017, has received an "other than honorable" discharge. #VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/3jnCtawvHc, Rudi (Dutschke) Cant Fail (@punkproletarian) September 24, 2017. He is a man of above-average stature. Rapones activities caught the attention of command authorities this week after he posted photos of himself in his West Point uniform while promoting communism on social media. Template:TOCnestleft Spenser Rapone was a US Army officer and Democratic Socialists of America member. Sign up to become a Sustainer before the deadline and take advantage of our best offer ever. racist or sexually-oriented language. Low around 35F. Articles by this author Opinion Your Commander-in-Chief Is Lying to You: Veterans Issue Open Letter to Active Duty US Soldiers Rory Fanning. or anything. He applied once again to West Point and was accepted. Contents 1 Austin academic 2 DSA resolution on Red Deal 3 Socialism 2018 4 Radical soldier 5 DSA solidarity 6 DSA Veterans Closed Facebook Group 7 DSA Veterans Working Group Statement on Afghanistan 8 Altmire support 9 Socialist Punk Caucus Greg Rinckey, an attorney specializing in military law, said its rare for an officer out of West Point to receive an other-than-honorable discharge. There is no better way to support this workand no better time to join. ;Z*A.,Gr+UYn>SYQel:2>pUpk'+0?@t %*-m,}'~3tWhWwOVM81&:OFGy]$F%xG7*8QjVy(q\-`m'ge(|bUWn`K.O;wu^+r>;Y?^Uba-g2Ia$qYXP}mjCGNq0sy5ElUAiWe -H/r| >a~SuPc;*}{Mf.B@I}\)T|] This time Rapone's father himself publicly weighed in on his son's gross comments and anti-American sentiment, according to the Daily Caller. Rapones Twitter account, where he tweets as @punkproletarian, was previously set to protected while the investigation ran its course. The soldier pictured, now 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone, had been openly serving as an avowed communist supporting the downfall of the U.S. government. Iwasnt quite asocialist yet, but Iknew Iwas against the war. [3], Members of the Democratic Socialists of America Veterans Working Group Closed Facebook Group, as of September 28, 2017, included Spenser Rapone under the name of Giuseppe Impastato.[4]. U*Z|rqO He was an honors student, an athlete, a model citizen who volunteered in the community, recalled Altmire, a Democrat. stream Another figure whos had abig influence on me was Stan Goff. But Ididnt say too much afterthat. Hosein brought Phi Alpha Theta members, including Rapone, to Orlando, Florida, for a national conference in February 2016. On the other hand, many people reached out and showed me support. Chris Hedges talks to Spenser Rapone, former combat veteran and US Army officer, about the Washington Post's series the 'Afghanistan Papers'.Drawing on thousands of pages of international government documents about the war in Afghanistan, the series exposes the lies, deceit, mismanagement, waste, corruption, fraud, and failed schemes that both Democratic and Republican administrations . The Army often invokes privacy concerns when dealing with information about junior ranking soldiers, though there is no blanket policy for the Defense Department. From there, Iwould either be retained or kicked out. Upon completion of Cadet Basic Training, scheduled for August 17, they'll be accepted into the Corps of Cadets. Id have to do ashow cause board, which is essentially me convincing them why Ishould stay in themilitary. But Iwas kind of stuck at that point because after your second year, you have to do whats called affirmation. If Idropped at that point, Iwould either be kicked back into the enlisted ranks or be forced to find away to pay for West Point. West Point graduate and now former Army infantry officer Spenser Rapone has been processed out of the U.S. Army and received an other than honorable discharge from the military after a photo he posted with his West Point cap and the words Communism will win went viral.
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