Latest news with #EastCoast-based
San Francisco Chronicle
20-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Racist memes shared by Navy SEALs prompt investigation, disciplinary actions
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two members of Navy SEAL Team 4 are facing disciplinary action for racist conduct, and several of their platoon and team leaders are being disciplined for leadership failures, according to a defense official. The two enlisted team members are being punished for developing racist memes targeting a Black sailor in their platoon and circulating them in a group chat with other team members, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of an ongoing investigation. The memes depicted the sailor as a slave, according to visuals viewed by The Associated Press. According to the official, the sailor who was targeted reported the incidents this year, but they took place beginning in 2022 and the memes circulated for years. The sailor had been in one of the SEAL Team 4 platoons but had his qualifications and SEAL trident revoked last year. He alleged that his failure to remain a SEAL was due to the racist treatment. Two officials said that as a result of the investigation, which was conducted by Naval Special Warfare Group 2, the sailor's SEAL qualifications are being reinstated. The group oversees SEAL Team 4 and the platoons that make up the team. The probe by the East Coast-based group found that the platoon and SEAL Team 4 leaders did not adequately address the sailor's concerns about racist behavior and that the decision to revoke his qualifications was flawed. 'This was a very shocking case of explicit and repeated racist memes directed at our client in a platoon-wide text thread," said Timothy Parlatore, the sailor's lawyer. 'They modified his face in photos to look like a monkey and portrayed him as a chained slave on a slave ship, among others.' The two enlisted sailors responsible for the memes face non-judicial punishment and punitive letters in their files. Both actions can be career ending, or can result in demotions or loss of pay. Other actions are still pending. The platoon and team leaders are also facing administrative actions, including disciplinary letters in their files, that could determine if they continue as SEALs. In a statement, Naval Special Warfare Command acknowledged the investigation into 'serious allegations of unprofessional conduct within one of our commands" and said "accountability actions are ongoing.' It added that 'we are dedicated to fostering a climate of dignity and respect, and after conducting a thorough and fair investigation, we will hold anyone found responsible of misconduct accountable.' Parlatore praised Rear Adm. Jamie Sands, head of NSW, and his staff for taking swift action to 'investigate, reverse the negative repercussions that our client received, and move to hold people accountable.' This is just the latest significant investigation into behavior issues and command failures at Naval Special Warfare Command. And it underscores racial concerns that are not new to the special warfare leaders. Commando forces across the services — particularly the officers — tend to be far less diverse than the military as a whole. And leaders in recent years have tried to reach out to a wider array of recruits in order to develop a more diverse force. Those efforts, however, could be threatened now, as the Trump administration and Defense Department leaders have made it a priority to end diversity and inclusion programs across the military and the government as a whole. That could exacerbate racist problems in the smaller, largely-white teams.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Racist memes shared by Navy SEALs prompt investigation, disciplinary actions
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two members of Navy SEAL Team 4 are facing disciplinary action for racist conduct, and several of their platoon and team leaders are being disciplined for leadership failures, according to a defense official. The two enlisted team members are being punished for developing racist memes targeting a Black sailor in their platoon and circulating them in a group chat with other team members, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of an ongoing investigation. The memes depicted the sailor as a slave, according to visuals viewed by The Associated Press. According to the official, the sailor who was targeted reported the incidents this year, but they took place beginning in 2022 and the memes circulated for years. The sailor had been in one of the SEAL Team 4 platoons but had his qualifications and SEAL trident revoked last year. He alleged that his failure to remain a SEAL was due to the racist treatment. Two officials said that as a result of the investigation, which was conducted by Naval Special Warfare Group 2, the sailor's SEAL qualifications are being reinstated. The group oversees SEAL Team 4 and the platoons that make up the team. The probe by the East Coast-based group found that the platoon and SEAL Team 4 leaders did not adequately address the sailor's concerns about racist behavior and that the decision to revoke his qualifications was flawed. 'This was a very shocking case of explicit and repeated racist memes directed at our client in a platoon-wide text thread," said Timothy Parlatore, the sailor's lawyer. 'They modified his face in photos to look like a monkey and portrayed him as a chained slave on a slave ship, among others.' The two enlisted sailors responsible for the memes face non-judicial punishment and punitive letters in their files. Both actions can be career ending, or can result in demotions or loss of pay. Other actions are still pending. The platoon and team leaders are also facing administrative actions, including disciplinary letters in their files, that could determine if they continue as SEALs. In a statement, Naval Special Warfare Command acknowledged the investigation into 'serious allegations of unprofessional conduct within one of our commands" and said "accountability actions are ongoing.' It added that 'we are dedicated to fostering a climate of dignity and respect, and after conducting a thorough and fair investigation, we will hold anyone found responsible of misconduct accountable.' Parlatore praised Rear Adm. Jamie Sands, head of NSW, and his staff for taking swift action to 'investigate, reverse the negative repercussions that our client received, and move to hold people accountable.' This is just the latest significant investigation into behavior issues and command failures at Naval Special Warfare Command. And it underscores racial concerns that are not new to the special warfare leaders. Commando forces across the services — particularly the officers — tend to be far less diverse than the military as a whole. And leaders in recent years have tried to reach out to a wider array of recruits in order to develop a more diverse force. Those efforts, however, could be threatened now, as the Trump administration and Defense Department leaders have made it a priority to end diversity and inclusion programs across the military and the government as a whole. That could exacerbate racist problems in the smaller, largely-white teams.
Winnipeg Free Press
20-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Racist memes among SEAL Team 4 members prompt investigation, disciplinary actions
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two members of Navy SEAL Team 4 are facing disciplinary action for racist conduct, and several of their platoon and team leaders are being disciplined for leadership failures, according to a defense official. The two enlisted team members are being punished for developing racist memes targeting a Black sailor in their platoon and circulating them in a group chat with other team members, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of an ongoing investigation. The memes depicted the sailor as a slave, according to visuals viewed by The Associated Press. According to the official, the sailor who was targeted reported the incidents this year, but they took place beginning in 2022 and the memes circulated for years. The sailor had been in one of the SEAL Team 4 platoons but had his qualifications and SEAL trident revoked last year. He alleged that his failure to remain a SEAL was due to the racist treatment. Two officials said that as a result of the investigation, which was conducted by Naval Special Warfare Group 2, the sailor's SEAL qualifications are being reinstated. The group oversees SEAL Team 4 and the platoons that make up the team. The probe by the East Coast-based group found that the platoon and SEAL Team 4 leaders did not adequately address the sailor's concerns about racist behavior and that the decision to revoke his qualifications was flawed.
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Sacramento's Land Park Lanes could be spared as deeming it a historical landmark
SACRAMENTO — There's new hope that popular Sacramento bowling spot Land Park Lanes could be saved from the wrecking ball after a fire last year forced it to close. Ray Valdovino spent decades bowling at Land Park Lanes on Freeport Boulevard. He was practicing inside when the building caught fire in February 2024. "Within seconds, you could see the black smoke fill up," Valdovino said. "You couldn't even see the pins anymore." The suspicious blaze caused extensive damage, and last year, the owners filed for a demolition permit. Valdovino said it is a historic structure that should be saved. "I would love to see them reopen this place," Valdovino said. The bowling alley was built in 1960 and features a mid-century modern design. Land Park neighbors say it's been an important part of the community for generations. "This is a place where I used to bring my kids. We used to celebrate their birthdays here," said Kristina Rogers with the Land Park Community Association. "This is a big community hub." "It was just a fun place for everybody to go," said Matt King with the Chorley Park Neighborhood Association. "It's a really iconic piece to the neighborhood." Now there's an effort to designate the building a local historic landmark, which could help save it from being torn down. "Once it's gone, it's not coming back," King said. The city says the property is historically significant to local Japanese American, African American, and LGBTQ bowling leagues. "This was a place you could come to if you were a minority and you were welcome to bowl, whereas some places you were banned," Valdovino said. A historic designation would make it more difficult to demolish the building and would require approval of the city council. The East Coast-based owners were not available for an interview for this story, but a study they commissioned found the building is not eligible for listing as a historic landmark. Now, bowling fans are hoping to strike a deal and spare the alley from being bulldozed. "I would love to see future generations come and bowl here," Rogers said. Sacramento's historic preservation commission is scheduled to discuss the potential landmark designation at its meeting this Wednesday at city hall. "The community would come back and support it, I'm sure," Valdovino said.
San Francisco Chronicle
19-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Stanford, Cal seek reversal of ACC fortunes in conference tournament
David Esquer's Stanford team owned a 15-3 record (5-1 ACC) and was ranked 14th in the country before Cal came to Sunken Diamond in late March and swept a three-game series. That triggered an 11-game conference losing streak for the Cardinal. The Bears' tailspin began a week later. They would endure a 14-game ACC skid. Stanford (27-24, 11-19) and Cal (22-30, 9-21) each won a series last week ahead of the ACC tournament, which begins Tuesday in Durham, N.C. Before looking at how the Bay Area teams are preparing for the single-elimination event, let's review what went wrong for two distinguished programs in their first season in the East Coast-based conference. 'You have to continue to have confidence in the face of adversity,' Cal head coach Mike Neu said in an interview in his Haas Pavilion office Saturday morning before the Bears' 4-3, 10-inning win over Boston College. 'We didn't manage that probably the best that we could as a team.' That one-run victory over the Eagles still left Cal with a 4-12 record in games decided by one or two runs. 'We just ran into a funk at some point during the season that we just could not get out of,' Esquer said in a phone interview Sunday morning, a day after the Cardinal knocked off No. 21 NC State 6-3. ACC tournament, first round Tuesday at Durham, N.C. Times PDT; seeds in parentheses. 6 a.m. (16) Cal vs. (9) Miami 10 a.m. (13) Stanford vs. (12) Virginia Tech 2 p.m. (15) Pittsburgh vs. (10) Louisville 6 p.m. (14) Boston College vs. (11) Notre Dame Games broadcast on the ACC Network. Even after ending its ACC skid with an 11-6 victory at Clemson on April 13, Stanford proceeded to lose five of its next six conference games, all of which were at Sunken. Cal and Stanford have dealt with injuries to their rotations. Neither the Bears' Austin Turkington (4-5, 5.27 ERA, 62 strikeouts in 54 ⅔ innings) nor the Cardinal's Matt Scott (5-2, 6.02, 56 K's in 52 ⅓ innings) has pitched this month and neither is available this week. Stanford lefty Christian Lim (2-3, 6.75) has been out for more than a month and he also is unavailable this week. The Bears and Cardinal have had to deal with the extensive travel inherent in the expanded conference. Cal made four long trips in the regular season and left Sunday for North Carolina. Stanford made five such trips and has remained in the Tobacco Road area after its series against the Wolfpack. So, the question becomes: How much has the travel affected the Bears and Cardinal? 'I do know that teams on the east that come out once, they bemoan the one trip that they have to make west,' Esquer said. 'As much as I've heard them not love coming out west once, I've got to believe that there's some effect to it. 'What it actually is I don't know.' 'You feel it cumulative,' Esquer said, meaning the lengthy travel can be detrimental to a team once it returns home. The Bears had to spend a night in the Louisville airport after a series against the Cardinals in late March. Nevertheless, Neu said, 'If we transfer blame onto (the travel), then I think we're kind of selling ourselves short. 'I definitely think it's more difficult, but I think winning with the travel is definitely attainable.' Though neither Stanford nor Cal has the record it would like, players on each team have thrived. For the Cardinal, senior third baseman Trevor Haskins (.329, 13 HRs, 41 RBIs), junior second baseman Jimmy Nati (.300, 15 HRs, 48 RBIs) and freshman outfielder Tatum Marsh (team-leading .374) have put together seasons to remember. For the Bears, outfielder Jacob French (team-leading .368), second baseman Jarren Advincula (.347) and first baseman Dominic Smaldino (11 HRs, 43 RBIs) – all sophomores – have been the headliners. Cal finished last in the 16-team conference. It opens the tournament against nine-seed Miami (31-23, 15-14). That's the first of four games Tuesday, and it begins at 9 a.m. EDT/6 a.m. PDT. Neu planned to have the Bears practice at that time Monday. 'We'll just try to get dialed into that time as quick as we possibly can and then be ready to go on Tuesday morning,' Neu said. 'And then from there, it's just, 'Hey, let's regroup and figure out what we need to do.'' Neu held right-hander Oliver de la Torre out of the Boston College series; he will start against the Hurricanes. De la Torre threw four shutout innings with six strikeouts in his most recent outing, Cal's 5-0 win over Florida State on May 10 that halted the Bears' ACC skid. Stanford's outlook for a regional isn't quite as stark as Cal's. As of Monday morning, the Cardinal's RPI was 49, in the borderline area of qualifying for the 64-team field. Stanford, the 13th seed in the conference tournament, faces 12-seed Virginia Tech (30-24, 12-18; RPI: 51) at 10 a.m. PDT Tuesday. If Stanford wins, it will face 5-seed Clemson (41-15, 18-12; RPI: 10) on Wednesday. If Stanford knocks off the Tigers, it will advance to face 4-seed NC State (33-18, 17-11; RPI: 34) on Thursday. An educated guess is that Stanford needs to win at least twice and probably three times to get in the conversation for an at-large regional bid. Esquer limited right-hander Joey Volchko, who will start against the Hokies, to two innings in the Cardinal's 7-2 loss at NC State on Thursday. Stanford then beat the Wolfpack 4-3 in 10 innings Friday and 6-3 Saturday. 'This past weekend, I got a chance to see that team that I hadn't seen in a while,' Esquer said, saying it was the best Stanford had played since its 15-3 start. 'I hadn't seen that team that played with that freedom and competitiveness.' Briefly: Stanford's win Saturday was the 800th of Esquer's career. The first 525 came in his 18 seasons (2000-2017) leading the Cal program. … If the Bears prevail Tuesday, they'll face 8-seed Wake Forest (36-19, 16-14) at 6 a.m. PDT Wednesday.
