Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Politics/National
NationalNewsPolitics

‘Kick Them Out’: Critics Want Marines Booted From Military After Snapchat Blackface Video Emerges

Posted byBy Kiersten Willis | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

After a video went viral of two Marines apparently wearing blackface last week, the U.S. Marine Corps has announced they are investigating.

Twitter user @sahluwal tweeted a video from Marine Zach Highfield’s Snapchat account on Feb. 23. In the viral clip, Highfield and another San Diego-based unidentified Marine, both uniformed, wear charcoal face masks, which @sahluwal described as “displaying his bigotry by wearing blackface in his military gear.”

The men put on their caps and Highfield salutes in the clip before the unidentified man behind him says, “Hello, monkey.”

The incident led to many calls on Twitter for Highfield and his comrade to be booted.

“They should be dishonorably discharged. They should never be allowed to handle a weapon again.”

“Kick them out.”

“Hope they get rid of him and his friend.”

“As a US Marine veteran I a disgusted. No honor to the corps. To America. Conduct unbecoming of a US Marine.”

By Monday, the Third Marine Aircraft Wing, based at Miramar Air Station, began a probe into the matter. However, they did not release details, including disclosing whether the men were based at Miramar.

“We are aware of this social media post,” spokesman Maj. Josef Patterson said in a statement Feb. 25. “An investigation has been initiated to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the content. Our leaders are committed to maintaining an environment of professionalism, dignity, and respect.

“3rd MAW takes all allegations of discriminatory behavior very seriously as they stand in stark contrast of our core values of honor, courage, and commitment and do not reflect the discipline and professionalism of the Marines and Sailors of 3rd MAW,” Patterson added. “It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing investigation.”

For his part, Highfield acknowledged that wearing the charcoal masks he said are meant to clear pores and making the video was not the best idea.

“It looks a lot worse than it is,” he told KPBS, noting he did not mean to post the footage and has heard from his command. “It was a bad mistake. We had no intention to offend.”

Highfield also acknowledged he takes full responsibility.

https://twitter.com/sahluwal/status/1099341332902866944

Democracy needs journalism it can trust.

This election season, the stakes are higher than usual — and so is the pressure on newsrooms to soften their coverage, stay quiet, or just disappear. Independent reporting, the kind that answers to readers instead of advertisers or political pressure, matters more in a moment like this, not less.

For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed independent and reader-funded. We have no corporate owner and no shareholders telling us what to cover or how to cover it. That independence is also our biggest vulnerability: nothing protects it except readers choosing to fund it directly.

Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under in a moment like this, it's rarely the independent, reader-funded ones that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Related Stories

Back to top