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U.S. NEWS Saturday 30 September 2017
Air Force Academy leader delivers powerful speech on race

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.
(AP) — The leader of the
Air Force Academy deliv-
ered a poignant and stern
message on race relations
in a speech to thousands
of cadets after someone
wrote racial slurs on mes-
sage boards outside the
dorm rooms of five black
students.
Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria warned
students that he would
not tolerate racism at the
academy and invoked
some of the racial tensions
that have been gripping
the country. At one point,
he insisted that everyone in
the audience take out their
phones and record him so
his message was clearly
heard. Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, gives a speech about race relations to U.S. Air Force cadets during lunch, Friday, Sept. 29, 2017 at the Air Force
“If you can’t treat someone Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Silveria, the leader of the Air Force Academy delivered a poignant and stern message on
with dignity and respect, race relations in a speech to thousands of cadets after someone wrote racial slurs on message boards outside the dorm rooms of
get out,” he said Thursday five black students.
as audience members (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP)
looked on with rapt atten- slurs are illegal in the mili- cannot provide any more Silveria said he called the line, coming in the after-
tion. tary and can bring charg- information about what families of the five prep math of racial violence
Air Force security person- es of violating orders and happened because of the school students who were in Charlottesville, Virginia,
nel are investigating the conduct unbecoming an ongoing investigation. No the objects of the slurs. and the debate about NFL
incident after the slurs were officer. additional details were re- His speech quickly became players kneeling for the na-
discovered Tuesday. Racial Officials have said they leased Friday. a widely viewed video on- tional anthem.q