Do you believe that these West Point first classman are violating the UCMJ by making a political statement while in uniform?

Yes, especially if they are representing a group that has committed violence within the United States as well as called for the death of Law Enforcement Officer and in some cases White Americans. This is a disgrace.

If these Cadets are, in fact, posing in a manner that violates the DoD Directive, then appropriate action needs to happen.

Yes, they are, they are in violation!!!! No organization withing the military is authorized unless authorized! Also, this is a racial sign they are expressing, used by the Black Lives Matter movement and the Black Panthers. When are we going to uphold the regs that are written and stop the "let it go"? Suggest they be counseled on the matter so they understand and then allowed to move along in their military career! If not, this type of behavior will continue to grow and will cause problems and segregation in the future, something we fought to abolish!
The bad thing is, if someone in the future were to complain about their action at a later date and claim racism, this matter will be brought back up! Not good!

I have heard the "they are just kids" argument plenty here.
And it's bullcrap.
These are Seniors at West Point who are about to become officers in the United States Army. They should be held to a higher standard. You can say whatever you want, but Officers in the military SHOULD be held to a higher standard. If not, then why do they exist?
There is no excuse for this.

Yup, I'll say that shit is racist. there's no room in the army for that. We got enough weird social experiments going on in the army then have to deal with racist female officers who would be commanding troops.. Lol so glad I'm not active duty. Takes 5 suicide prevention classes lol

Two things bother about all this. 1) Those young people do not have first hand knowledge of what Jim Crow was like. They were not there in Greensboro, where black citizens asked to be served and were denied. (Greensboro, NC.) People of the Philippines were slaves for 300 years!! They have moved on. In WWII, their kids, babies were impaled on poles for sport. But they marched the Bataan Death March and Corrigador along side Americans. They were crueally treated in their own Country. You were not here MLK was shot. I remember the event like it were yesterday. Little Rock Hall, was another instance where kids tried to go to school and were denied.

And I am pretty sure that you were not segregated and I actually witnessed the old school that was shut down. I used to play in the neighborhood. Willie and I were to a football game in Arkadelphia were the KKK were at. Willie said that, maybe we should go. lol, ya think? Were you there or where Hank Aaron had threats and his parents also. He handled it with grace. Bob Gibson who at one time, played basketball for the Globetrotters but could not stay in a white only hotel. Anheiser Busch rectified that? The backdrop to all of this is, that real people experienced stuff you had no experience with.

Lastly and more importantly you were not there and then to throw the power sign around, oblivious to the sacrifices of other blacks and you were not there. Lou Brock, Bob Gibson experienced it and so did Ozzie Smith, but the great SS got over that and said that if you don't have it, you don't miss it.
COL Sam Russell SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL did as well.

Regards and respectfully,
Larry

yes they did violate ucmj, they know it as well, but think its ok, which it isnt. officers or future officers need to exercise restraint, this was a stupid act to be involved in, no matter your political leanings. Officers are not involved in politics on purpose.

Garbage. Wouldn't want these creatures out there leading, if they do stupid shit like this before they're even in the fleet...
The comment that they are young and stupid is so oblivious, ignorant and dangerous - they are training to be officers of soldiers, what kind shit is this?? If this were a group of whites, it would automatically be shut down, condemned and potentially kicked out of the academy.

Last but not least, to summarize some of the comments - this isn't about diversity or open mindedness or freedom of speech... Screw that, they want to enter an organization that should be one unit, not divisive/everyone's feelings need to be heard/taken into consideration type of bullshit. It starts with the basics, and they can't even keep their bearing in training......
Even if there wasn't any subtext or connotation, they (cadets/classmates, whatever) should know better.

I believe they are in violation. Just think if me and my team of Army Recruiters took a photo like that in front of our recruiting center! Would there even be a debate if we were in violation?

The military is NOT a Social Service Organization. It has rules / laws to maintain decorum and respect.

These people violated those laws/rules and should be removed. They have disrespected the Military, the Military Academy, and the American People that provided their education.