Midshipmen from the Naval Academy taunted their West Point cadet rivals at the Army-Navy Game in Philadelphia on Saturday with chants and signs mocking them over avowed communist 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone. Rapone is a 2016 West Point grad who posted photos of himself in uniform with messages promoting communism.
The signs which said, “Communism Won’t Win” and “NOT COMMUNIST” were posted to Twitter by Marine vet Julio Rosas who is a staffer with the Independent Journal Review and by an unaffiliated viewer.
Random “Not Communist” sign in front of the Midshipmen… #ArmyNavyGame pic.twitter.com/j5ppNR44kS
— Justin Cook (@jbgcook) December 9, 2017
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Navy with the savage burn against the West Point graduate who advocated for communism in uniform. #ArmyNavyGame pic.twitter.com/KWZo7LKhfO
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 9, 2017
Dj khaled: "Another one." #ArmyNavyGame pic.twitter.com/Gibc2NMPQ8
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) December 9, 2017
The Twitter posts that brought Rapone to prominence.
#VeteransForKaepernick pic.twitter.com/3jnCtawvHc
— Spenser Rapone (@punkproletarian) September 24, 2017
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In case there was any lingering doubt, hasta la victoria siempre pic.twitter.com/0XrW38wcCk
— Spenser Rapone (@punkproletarian) September 25, 2017
There does not appear to have been any action to remove Rapone from the service since he posted the photos last September.
West Point posted a nothing-burger statement in September.
USMA statement in response to social media posts by West Point graduate, 2nd Lt. Rapone – https://t.co/tUd6QOWDCU
— U.S. Military Academy (@WestPoint_USMA) September 26, 2017
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.
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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.”
The Daily Caller reported that Rapone also tweeted comments last summer calling Vice President Mike Pence a “fucking medieval, cold-blooded killer” and Secretary of Defense James Mattis, “the most vile, evil fuck in the current administration”.
