Late last week, Navy Reserve Forces Command published guidance warning troops that they can be punished or prosecuted for refusing to stand when the Star Spangled Banner is played. This was in response to two sailors going public with their decision to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. It appears the warning did not work as Fox News reports that Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Janaye Ervin, a reservist stationed at Pearl Harbor, lost her security clearance and was threatened with jail by the Navy after refusing to stand for the national anthem.
The Navy published guidance last week…
A message directed at active-duty sailors and reserve personnel on active duty cites Navy Regulation 1205, which mandates that personnel in uniform must stand at attention and face the flag when the national anthem is played.
It also notes that a Navy administrative message published in 2009 requires Navy active-duty personnel in civilian clothes to face the flag, stand at attention, and place their right hand over their heart.
"Additionally, Sailors receive training on the appropriate usage of social media, and must not use it to discredit the Naval Service, and should be reminded it could potentially be used as evidence against them," the guidance continues, a message apparently directed at the two sailors who published posts on Facebook about their protests.
Failure to comply with these regulations, the message said, is punishable under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and constitutes commission of a serious offense — grounds for administrative separation from the service.
"While military personnel are not excluded from the protections granted by the First Amendment, the US Supreme Court has stated that the different character of our community and of the military mission requires a different application of those protections," the guidance states.
And despite these warnings, Janaye Ervin went ahead and refused to stand during the national anthem.
Her explanation…
My fellow Americans,
I have been proudly serving in the US Navy Reserve Force since November 2008.
I have pledged to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and to spread freedom and democracy around the world
I will never waver from that pledge.
On September 19,2016, while in uniform, I made the conscious decision to not stand for the Star Spangled Banner because I feel like a hypocrite, singing about "land of the free" when, I know that only applies to some Americans.
I will gladly stand again, when ALL AMERICANS are afforded the same freedom.
The Navy has decided to punish me for defending the Constitution and has taken away my equipment I need to do my Naval job.
It was my pleasure serving my country, I love it dearly, that is why I must do this for you. I will keep you all posted on what happens next!
Which she posted on Facebook…
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