Latest news with #MemorializingtheHolocaust
Boston Globe
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Most books pulled from Naval Academy library are back on the shelves in latest DEI turn
Advertisement The back-and-forth on book removals reflects a persistent problem in the early months of the Trump administration, as initial orders and demands for an array of policy changes have been forced to be reworked, fine-tuned and reissued because they were vague, badly defined or problematic. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The reviews and changes at military libraries and to websites, social media accounts and more are part of the Trump administration's far-reaching efforts to purge so-called DEI content from federal agencies. The Pentagon earlier this month issued a detailed directive to all military leaders and commands to pull and review all library books addressing diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by Wednesday. The order contained more specific search words than earlier guidance and verbal orders from Defense Department leaders, and officials said it resulted in dramatically fewer banned books than initially thought. Advertisement The Navy said in a statement Wednesday that it reviewed the library collections at all of its educational institutions to ensure compliance with the directives, noting that materials have been 'identified and sequestered.' The Army and Air Force also have reviewed their collections. All of the services' libraries had to provide their new lists of books to Pentagon leaders. Now additional guidance will be given on how to cull those lists, if needed, and determine what should be permanently removed. The review also will 'determine an appropriate ultimate disposition' for those materials, according to a Defense Department memo. The May 9 memo — signed by Timothy Dill, who is performing the duties of the deputy defense undersecretary for personnel — did not say what will happen to the books or whether they will be stored away or destroyed. The libraries at the military academies and those at other schools and commands had to remove educational materials 'promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology' because they are incompatible with the Defense Department's core mission, the memo said. A temporary Academic Libraries Committee set up by the department is overseeing the process, and it provided a list of search terms to use to determine which books to pull and review. Those search terms included: affirmative action, anti-racism, critical race theory, discrimination, diversity, gender dysphoria, gender identity and transition, transgender and white privilege. The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, removed 381 books from its library in early April after being told by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's office to get rid of those that promote DEI. Advertisement The purge led to the removal of books on the Holocaust, histories of feminism, civil rights and racism, and Maya Angelou's famous autobiography, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.' Others included 'Memorializing the Holocaust,' which deals with Holocaust memorials; 'Half American,' about African Americans in World War II; 'A Respectable Woman,' about the public roles of African American women in 19th century New York; and 'Pursuing Trayvon Martin,' about the 2012 shooting of a Black 17-year-old in Florida that raised questions about racial profiling. The Navy on Wednesday could not confirm which books have been returned to the library or if Angelou's book or the others will remain pulled from shelves. About two weeks after the Naval Academy purge was ordered, the Army and Air Force libraries were told to go through their stacks to find and remove books related to DEI. Throughout the process, leaders of the military services sought more detailed guidance on which books had to go because the initial order to the Naval Academy was verbal and vague. Dill's memo provided that additional guidance. Similarly, directives to reenlist troops forced out for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine and to remove transgender service members from the military have had to be clarified over time. Defense leaders have had to provide additional guidance and wording to address questions from the services on how to legally and accurately implement the orders. And in several cases, orders had to be refined and reissued.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Pentagon orders removal of books on diversity, anti-racism, gender issues
It is the broadest and most detailed directive so far on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's campaign to rid the military of diversity and equity programmes, policies and instructional materials AP Washington The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21, according to a memo issued to the force on Friday. It is the broadest and most detailed directive so far on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's campaign to rid the military of diversity and equity programmes, policies and instructional materials. And it follows similar efforts to remove hundreds of books from the libraries at the military academies. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the memo, which was signed Friday by Timothy Dill, who is performing the duties of the defence undersecretary for personnel. Educational materials at the libraries promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the Department's core mission, the memo states, adding that department leaders must promptly identify books that are not compatible with that mission and sequester them by May 21. By then, the memo says, additional guidance will be provided on how to cull that initial list and determine what should be removed and determine an appropriate ultimate disposition for those materials. It does not say what will happen to the books or whether they will be stored away or destroyed. According to the memo, a temporary Academic Libraries Committee set up by the department will provide information on the review and decisions about the books. That panel provided a list of search terms to use in the initial identification of the books to be pulled and reviewed. The search terms include: affirmative action, anti-racism, critical race theory, discrimination, diversity, gender dysphoria, gender identity and transition, transgender, transsexual and white privilege. Early last month the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, removed nearly 400 books from its library after being told by Hegseth's office to get rid of those that promote DEI. About two weeks later, the Army and Air Force libraries were told to go through their stacks to find books related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Naval Academy's purge led to the removal of books on the Holocaust, histories of feminism, civil rights and racism, and Maya Angelou's famous autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," based on the list of 381 books that have been taken out of its library. In addition to Angelou's award-winning book, the list includes Memorializing the Holocaust, which deals with Holocaust memorials; Half American, about African Americans in World War II; A Respectable Woman, about the public roles of African American women in 19th century New York; and Pursuing Trayvon Martin, about the 2012 shooting of the Black 17-year-old boy in Florida that raised questions about racial profiling.
Newsweek
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Pentagon Issues New Sweeping Order Amid Trump Admin Crackdown on DEI
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Pentagon has issued its most sweeping directive yet in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's ongoing campaign to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content from the U.S. military. In a memo distributed Friday and obtained by the Associated Press, military leaders and commands were ordered to review and pull all library books related to diversity, anti-racism, and gender issues by May 21. The directive characterizes such materials as "promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology," which it says are incompatible with the Department of Defense's core mission. President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington, as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth looks on. President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington, as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth looks on. Associated Press The memo, signed by Timothy Dill, the acting undersecretary for personnel, follows recent book removals from military academies and significantly broadens the effort. It directs all commands to promptly identify and sequester materials that fall under a sweeping list of flagged topics, including affirmative action, critical race theory, gender identity, and white privilege. A temporary Academic Libraries Committee will oversee the process and has already provided a list of search terms to guide the initial identification. While the memo states that further guidance will follow by May 21, it does not clarify the final disposition of the removed books, leaving unanswered whether they will be stored or destroyed. The Pentagon's move comes on the heels of a purge last month at the U.S. Naval Academy, where nearly 400 books were pulled from its library. Titles removed included Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Memorializing the Holocaust, Half American (on Black soldiers in WWII), A Respectable Woman (about African American women's public roles in the 19th century), and Pursuing Trayvon Martin, which explores racial profiling and the 2012 shooting that sparked national protest. Similar efforts to filter library content have since expanded to the Army and Air Force academies. In a separate memo also issued Friday, Hegseth directed military academies to strictly enforce merit-based admissions, explicitly prohibiting consideration of race, ethnicity, or sex. He emphasized the word "no" in the directive, while permitting exceptions for candidates with exceptional athletic talent, prior military service, or those from preparatory programs. Service secretaries are required to certify compliance within 30 days, and admissions offices must rank students by "merit-based scores" within nomination categories such as children of service members or nominees from members of Congress. The dual memos mark a dramatic reshaping of educational and admissions standards within the military, reflecting Hegseth's stated goal to root out what he views as ideological influence from the armed forces' academic and recruitment processes. Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
Japan Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Pentagon directs military to pull library books that address diversity, anti-racism, gender issues
By LOLITA C. BALDOR The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21, according to a memo issued to the force on Friday. It is the broadest and most detailed directive so far on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's campaign to rid the military of diversity and equity programs, policies and instructional materials. And it follows similar efforts to remove hundreds of books from the libraries at the military academies. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the memo, which was signed Friday by Timothy Dill, who is performing the duties of the defense undersecretary for personnel. Educational materials at the libraries 'promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the Department's core mission,' the memo states, adding that department leaders must 'promptly identify' books that are not compatible with that mission and sequester them by May 21. By then, the memo says, additional guidance will be provided on how to cull that initial list and determine what should be removed and 'determine an appropriate ultimate disposition' for those materials. It does not say what will happen to the books or whether they will be stored away or destroyed. According to the memo, a temporary Academic Libraries Committee set up by the department will provide information on the review and decisions about the books. That panel provided a list of search terms to use in the initial identification of the books to be pulled and reviewed. The search terms include: affirmative action, anti-racism, critical race theory, discrimination, diversity, gender dysphoria, gender identity and transition, transgender, transsexual and white privilege. Early last month the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, removed nearly 400 books from its library after being told by Hegseth's office to get rid of those that promote DEI. About two weeks later, the Army and Air Force libraries were told to go through their stacks to find books related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Naval Academy's purge led to the removal of books on the Holocaust, histories of feminism, civil rights and racism, and Maya Angelou's famous autobiography, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," based on the list of 381 books that have been taken out of its library. In addition to Angelou's award-winning book, the list includes 'Memorializing the Holocaust,' which deals with Holocaust memorials; 'Half American,' about African Americans in World War II; 'A Respectable Woman,' about the public roles of African American women in 19th century New York; and 'Pursuing Trayvon Martin,' about the 2012 shooting of the Black 17-year-old boy in Florida that raised questions about racial profiling. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
San Francisco Chronicle
09-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Pentagon directs military to pull library books that address diversity, anti-racism, gender issues
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21, according to a memo issued to the force on Friday. It is the broadest and most detailed directive so far on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's campaign to rid the military of diversity and equity programs, policies and instructional materials. And it follows similar efforts to remove hundreds of books from the libraries at the military academies. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the memo, which was signed Friday by Timothy Dill, who is performing the duties of the defense undersecretary for personnel. Educational materials at the libraries 'promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the Department's core mission,' the memo states, adding that department leaders must 'promptly identify' books that are not compatible with that mission and sequester them by May 21. By then, the memo says, additional guidance will be provided on how to cull that initial list and determine what should be removed and 'determine an appropriate ultimate disposition' for those materials. It does not say what will happen to the books or whether they will be stored away or destroyed. According to the memo, a temporary Academic Libraries Committee set up by the department will provide information on the review and decisions about the books. That panel provided a list of search terms to use in the initial identification of the books to be pulled and reviewed. The search terms include: affirmative action, anti-racism, critical race theory, discrimination, diversity, gender dysphoria, gender identity and transition, transgender, transsexual and white privilege. Early last month the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, removed nearly 400 books from its library after being told by Hegseth's office to get rid of those that promote DEI. About two weeks later, the Army and Air Force libraries were told to go through their stacks to find books related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Naval Academy's purge led to the removal of books on the Holocaust, histories of feminism, civil rights and racism, and Maya Angelou's famous autobiography, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," based on the list of 381 books that have been taken out of its library. In addition to Angelou's award-winning book, the list includes 'Memorializing the Holocaust,' which deals with Holocaust memorials; 'Half American,' about African Americans in World War II; 'A Respectable Woman,' about the public roles of African American women in 19th century New York; and 'Pursuing Trayvon Martin,' about the 2012 shooting of the Black 17-year-old boy in Florida that raised questions about racial profiling.
