In a recent MSNBC broadcast, former federal prosecutor Maya Wiley made a startling claim, stating that an estimated 11% of U.S. military personnel are white supremacists or extremists.
This assertion, which has been met with skepticism, comes at a time when the nation is grappling with issues of racial profiling and authoritarianism.
According to the Daily Caller, Wiley's comments were made during a segment on Deadline: White House, where she warned of an impending reckoning if American institutions fail to confront these rising issues. We may come to that reckoning very soon in this country, where our own military says we wont do it anymore, Wiley cautioned.
She further emphasized the need for the military to take action, stating, we have a lot of military, who are deeply concerned and troubled and dont want to do this. But there is by some estimates 11% of military that are white supremacists or other white extremists in the military.
These comments were made in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to grant the Trump administrations request to lift restrictions on immigration raids in Los Angeles. Justice Brett Kavanaugh concurred, asserting that the judiciary does not set immigration policy or decide enforcement priorities.
The administration had previously urged the justices to block a district court order that prohibited immigration agents from considering race, location, type of work, or Spanish language use during stops.
Wiley expressed concern that the Supreme Courts failure to draw a firm line on racial profiling could undermine the nations entire system of checks and balances. She argued that racial profiling is not only affecting Latinos but also other racial minorities.
We have seen blockades in city streets for no reason deciding who to pull over, and it is people who are Asian or Pacific Islander or Native American or black. It is racially profiling, but it is coming for everyone, Wiley warned.
She further pointed out the potential implications of this issue on the military, stating, And the point here about the military is going to become much more crucial. Because as weve seen in other countries that have faced this kind of authoritarianism, it is when the military says we wont do it anymore.
However, a Pentagon-funded study reported by The Associated Press in 2024 contradicts Wiley's claims about the military. The study found no widespread presence of white supremacists in the U.S. military, asserting that extremists with military ties make up only a tiny fraction of the armed forces.
This discrepancy raises questions about the validity of Wiley's assertions and the potential implications for the military and the nation at large. As the debate continues, the need for a balanced and fair approach to these complex issues remains paramount.
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