The Pentagon released a new policy effectively banning Confederate flag displays at Department of Defense facilities.
On Friday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper took to Twitter to announce the release of a memo unveiling the Department of Defense’s new policy.
According to Esper, certain flags will no longer be displayed at any of the government agency’s facilities, though he did not specifically name the Confederate flag. He listed what flags would be allowed.
He tweeted, “Today I issued a memorandum to the force on the display of flags at [Dept of Defense] facilities. With this change in policy, we will further improve the morale, cohesion, and readiness of the force in defense of our great Nation.”
In the memo, Esper stressed the importance “treating all our people with dignity and respect” as he condemned “divisive symbols.”
“We must always remain focused on what unifies us, our sworn oath to the Constitution, and our shared duty to defend the nation,” Esper wrote. “The flags we fly must accord with the military imperatives of good order and discipline, treating all our people with dignity and respect, and rejecting divisive symbols.”
Today I issued a memorandum to the force on the display of flags at @DeptofDefense facilities. With this change in policy, we will further improve the morale, cohesion, and readiness of the force in defense of our great Nation. pic.twitter.com/YQPc3kxf4V
— Archive: Dr. Mark T. Esper (@EsperDoD) July 17, 2020
Esper’s memo comes over a month after the death of George Floyd led to mounting calls for the end of racial inequality and police brutality in the United States.
In wake of the controversy surrounding the Confederate flag, Esper previously announced the formation of the “Defense Board on Diversity and Inclusion in the Military” and Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion — two of three initiatives to increase diversity within the United States’ Armed Forces, as previously reported on IJR.
During a press conference, Esper outlined his overall goal for the initiative as he noted changes that will be implemented in the coming months.
Bias & prejudice have no place in our military, or in our country. Prejudices – whether visible or invisible, conscious or unconscious—remain a burden to many. They hold back the diversity of the force, representation in our officer ranks, and experiences of our minority members. pic.twitter.com/uhScevfv9y
— Archive: Dr. Mark T. Esper (@EsperDoD) June 18, 2020
“Over the next few months, I will be working across the department to identify additional ways to foster lasting change, from recruiting, career track selection, and retention; to assignments, schools, and promotions; to military justice and everything in between and beyond,” he said.
The U.S. Army is also looking to remove “divisive” symbols from military bases.
“Anything that is a divisive symbol, we do want to take those of our installations and that sort of thing out of our formation,” Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said.
