A webpage from the Department of Defense celebrating Jackie Robinson, the trailblazer in baseball and civil rights, was restored on Wednesday following its earlier disappearance. This follows the removal of pages dedicated to a Black Medal of Honor recipient and Japanese American service members. The Pentagon attributed this to an error amidst its effort to eliminate content that highlights the contributions of women and minority groups, a move the Trump administration associates with “DEI” initiatives.
The webpage reinstated for Jackie Robinson contained detailed biographical data about his service in the Army during World War II, a role he took on before breaking major league baseball’s racial barriers with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Earlier attempts to access this page resulted in an error message stating it was potentially moved or unavailable, and “dei” appeared in the URL.
David Robinson, son of Jackie Robinson and board member of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, expressed surprise at the page’s removal. “We hold our father Jackie Robinson’s military service in high regard, noting his exceptional strength, talent, and moral integrity which greatly influenced both athletics and societal equality,” he noted. “As a recipient of national honors like the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, Jackie’s legacy is integral to America’s history.”
On Wednesday, the webpage was re-activated, and the Pentagon issued a statement. “We are satisfied with the department’s swift adjustment in removing DEI content from public platforms,” stated John Ullyot, the press secretary. “Should removal occur inadvertently or against the policy’s intended scope, we promptly direct amendments so our heroes’ contributions are acknowledged without biases based on race, ethnicity, or sex, but rather for their patriotic service.” The page recounts an incident in 1944 where Robinson defied an order to move to the back of an Army bus, prompting a legal battle where he was ultimately acquitted.
Efforts have led to the removal of thousands of pages recognizing contributions from women and minority service members. At a briefing, Pentagon representative Sean Parnell defended these actions. Additionally, a webpage about Maj. Gen. Charles Calvin Rogers, a Black Medal of Honor recipient, was removed but restored the same day.
“The Defense Department honors individuals like Jackie Robinson, the Navajo Code Talkers, the Tuskegee Airmen, and many others for their exemplary, sometimes heroic service,” Ullyot asserted. “Our tribute is based on their unwavering patriotism rather than immutable characteristics like race or sex.” He described DEI as “Discriminatory Equity Ideology,” suggesting it disrupts unity and the military’s core mission.