Racial Tension Rampant In Jacksonville After Black Boys Are Kicked Out Of Fair For Wearing Memorial Apparel

An 18-year-old black man and his friend were kicked out of the Greater Jacksonville Agriculture Fair, without refund or apology, for their attire. 

The two friends, who are members of the black male empowerment group, EVAC, were going about their business on November 3 when police officers approached one of them and questioned the chain he was wearing around his neck. The jewelry honored his late mother. The officers said the chain was "gang-related" apparel.

"There were like four officers. They approached us, and the first one told us to pull up my pants, and the second one told my friend and said, 'Let me see that,’ and he told him that it was his mom and it wasn’t even his friend, it was his mom," he told News4Jax. "They told us to get out."

The next day, one of the guys headed back to the fair to double-check the rule board for any established rules around attire. There were none. Then, he called to clarify he has yet to see any rules that justify the reason for him and his friend's removal from the fair. 

Shortly after his phone call, a sign prohibiting "memorial clothing or jewelry" was posted. According to News4Jax, fair officials claim the sign was put up before the fair opened October 31.

 

racial profiling. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>“It’s used purposely to prey upon and keep out African-Americans in the community,” Donofrio said. On the contrary, Gayle Hart, a spokeswoman for the fair, said this is a sensitive situation that has caused a lot of grief. Hart also said the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office banned the clothing and jewelry because it's associated with "bad behavior."

racial profiling. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>“It said we can’t wear them. Basically, no necklaces, none of that,” said Jarod Mills, a Lee High School senior, about the school's decision. “They don’t feel it’s appropriate for the school.”

racial profiling. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>

racial profiling.\u003C/a> Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>The incident has sparked tensions in the Jacksonville community between civilians and police. Amy Donofrio, the founder of EVAC, is calling the case for what it is: racial profiling.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp content='The incident has created great tension in the community, with a mentor for the teens, Amy Donofrio, calling it a case of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tagged/racial-profiling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">racial profiling.\u003C/a> Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>“It’s used purposely to prey upon and keep out African-Americans in the community,” Donofrio said. On the contrary, Gayle Hart, a spokeswoman for the fair, said this is a sensitive situation that has caused a lot of grief. Hart also said the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office banned the clothing and jewelry because it's associated with "bad behavior."\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp content='The incident has created great tension in the community, with a mentor for the teens, Amy Donofrio, calling it a case of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tagged/racial-profiling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">racial profiling.\u003C/a> Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>The banning of "memorial clothing and jewelry" did not just stop at the fair but \u003Ca href=\"https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/jacksonville/lee-high-school-students-reminded-not-to-wear-anything-with-rip\">matriculated to Robert E. Lee high\u003C/a> school, as well. The high school's officials told News4Jax the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/jacksonville/lee-high-school-students-reminded-not-to-wear-anything-with-rip\">reason for banning the items\u003C/a> is because "gang-affiliated clothing and paraphernalia is unacceptable," referring to any R.I.P. attire. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp content='The incident has created great tension in the community, with a mentor for the teens, Amy Donofrio, calling it a case of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tagged/racial-profiling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">racial profiling.\u003C/a> Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>“It said we can’t wear them. Basically, no necklaces, none of that,” said Jarod Mills, a Lee High School senior, about the school's decision. “They don’t feel it’s appropriate for the school.”\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp content='The incident has created great tension in the community, with a mentor for the teens, Amy Donofrio, calling it a case of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tagged/racial-profiling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">racial profiling.\u003C/a> Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>The west Jacksonville school has yet to comment on the ban, and its attempt to shut down the students' expression in honoring lost loved ones has been the tip of the iceberg and caused several students to organize protests. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp content='The incident has created great tension in the community, with a mentor for the teens, Amy Donofrio, calling it a case of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tagged/racial-profiling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">racial profiling.\u003C/a> Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp content='The incident has created great tension in the community, with a mentor for the teens, Amy Donofrio, calling it a case of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tagged/racial-profiling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">racial profiling.\u003C/a> Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>\u003Cem>Now, check these out:\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/employees-at-a-frozen-yogurt-shop-called-cops-on-an-unwanted-subject-that-subject-was-a-black-man\">Employees At A Frozen Yogurt Shop Called Cops On An 'Unwanted Subject.' That 'Subject' Was A Black Man.\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/maryland-couple-racially-profiled-while-buying-refrigerator-files-4m-lawsuit\">Maryland Couple Racially Profiled While Shopping At Costco Files $4M Lawsuit\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/a-black-teen-was-arrested-for-wearing-a-hoodie-in-a-memphis-mall-and-so-was-the-person-defending-him\">A Black Teen Was Arrested For Wearing A Hoodie In A Memphis Mall And So Was The Person Defending Him\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n",[23],{"id":24,"name":25,"slug":26,"description":10,"image":27},83,"News","news",null,[29],{"id":30,"name":31,"slug":32,"description":10,"image":10},29035,"Tallahassee, Florida","tallahassee-florida",{"url":34,"thumbnail":34,"credit":35,"title":10,"alt":10,"type":36,"width":27,"height":27},"https://res.cloudinary.com/blavity/image/upload/v1543442533/ow5walspoe9xknpc4kwz","Twitter","image","2018-11-28T16:43:57-05:00","2018-11-28 16:43:57","default",[],false,2,{"disableConnatixPlayer":41},{"disableAd":41,"disableConnatixPlayer":41,"enabledComments":45,"headScript":27},true,{"reviewer_name":10},"https://storage.googleapis.com/blavitynews/images/fallback.jpg","article",{"list":50,"total":173},[51,92,134],{"id":52,"author":53,"authors":63,"title":65,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":66,"body":67,"categories":68,"tags":70,"featuredMedia":75,"publishedAt":84,"publishedAtGMT":85,"updatedAt":86,"updatedAtGMT":87,"type":39,"listicle":88,"disableContentGate":41,"disableListicleNumbers":41,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"readingTime":42,"customFields":89,"additional":90,"acf":91},72915453,{"id":54,"avatar":55,"firstName":56,"lastName":57,"displayName":58,"email":59,"username":60,"normalizedUsername":61,"description":10,"htmlBio":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":62},99833,"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3995-compress.jpeg","Jahaura","Michelle","Jahaura Michelle","jahaura.wilson@blavity.com","JahauraMichelle","jahauramichelle","2023-04-03T03:43:50+00:00",[64],{"id":54,"avatar":55,"firstName":56,"lastName":57,"displayName":58,"email":59,"username":60,"normalizedUsername":61,"description":10,"htmlBio":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":62},"NAACP Joins Legal Team Representing the Family Of Nolan Wells Amid Death Investigation","naacp-joins-legal-team-representing-the-family-of-nolan-wells-amid-death-investigation","\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/why-the-naacp-is-making-its-biggest-midterm-elections-investment-ever\">NAACP’s\u003C/a> Office of General Counsel announced Monday that it will join the legal team investigating the death of Nolan Wells, the 18-year-old whose body was found in the water off Mississippi’s Horn Island on July 6 following a Fourth of July boating trip with friends.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-what-did-the-naacp-say-about-joining-the-investigation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What did the NAACP say about joining the investigation?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The organization stated it will work with the family’s legal team, including civil rights attorney Ben Crump, to ensure a thorough investigation focused on transparency and accountability.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We’re taking up this fight to search for truth and to demand transparency concerning the tragic death of Nolan Wells,” Kristen Clarke, General Counsel of the NAACP, said in a \u003Ca href=\"https://naacp.org/articles/naacp-office-general-counsel-joins-nolan-wells-family-legal-team\">news release\u003C/a> statement.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wells’ death has raised concerns among his family, their attorneys and Black communities nationwide. His parents, Christine and Elmore Wonsley, continue to seek answers and advocate for their son over a month later.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-federal-review-request\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Federal review request\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Thursday, they joined Crump and Rev. Al Sharpton at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention and Career Fair in Atlanta. The Wonsleys participated in a panel, sharing memories of their son and describing the events before his trip and the search that followed, \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/nolan-wells-parents-attorneys-call-for-federal-review-of-his-death-during-nabj-convention\">Blavity\u003C/a> reported.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the afternoon, the group held a press conference with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Representative Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), calling for a federal review into Wells’ disappearance and death.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel, requesting a review into Wells’ case. Despite an ongoing investigation by local law enforcement, Clarke’s letter states that a local investigation does not diminish the need for federal assistance or an independent assessment of whether additional investigative resources or federal jurisdiction are warranted.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“We simply want to ensure that every appropriate resource, investigative tool, and avenue of inquiry is being used to establish the truth,” she said in a news release.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-naacp-president-on-the-nolan-wells-case-the-deaths-of-young-black-people-are-dismissed\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">NAACP president on the Nolan Wells case: ‘The deaths of young Black people are dismissed’\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wells was reported missing on the night of July 4 after several friends said he decided to stay behind on the island to talk with a girl he had met named Katie. The teen’s body was later found in the water on the northeast side of the barrier island on the morning of July 6.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crump and his legal team have since raised questions about Wells’ death, the statements from his friends, and why his phone was with one of them and not on his body when he was found.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An independent autopsy was commissioned by Wells’ family on July 7 and conducted by Dr. Robert Mitchell. The results were revealed at the 117th NAACP National Convention in Chicago last month, with the autopsy’s findings stating that Wells’ cause of death remains undetermined.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The NAACP’s involvement in the case will further highlight the century-long commitment the organization has to bringing truth to Black families who have lost their loved ones.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“The world is watching, and Nolan Wells’ family deserves a thorough accounting of what happened,” Derrick Johnson, President & CEO of the NAACP, said in a press release statement. “Too often, the deaths of young Black people are dismissed, downplayed, or inadequately investigated unless we demand answers. Our involvement in this case is part of our ongoing commitment to make sure those answers are pursued with urgency and respect for Black lives.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003C/p>\n",[69],{"id":24,"name":25,"slug":26,"description":10,"image":27},[71],{"id":72,"name":73,"slug":74,"description":10,"image":10},44529,"top stories","top-stories",{"url":76,"thumbnail":77,"credit":78,"title":79,"alt":80,"type":36,"width":81,"height":82,"mimeType":83},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GettyImages-2287195299.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GettyImages-2287195299-150x100.jpg","Attorney Ben Crump (L) holds a press conference with Elmore Wonsley and Christine Wells-Wonsley, the parents of Nolan Wells, at the annual NAACP National Convention to announce the results of an independent autopsy as they investigate the death of Wells on July 22, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Eighteen-year-old Wells was found dead two days after he disappeared during a July 4 boat trip to Horn Island off the coast of Mississippi with a group of high school friends. | Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images","Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Holds News Conference On Death Of Nolan Wells In Mississippi","Attorney Ben Crump (L) holds a press conference with Elmore Wonsley and Christine Wells-Wonsley, the parents of Nolan Wells, at the annual NAACP National Convention to announce the results of an independent autopsy as they investigate the death of Wells on July 22, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Eighteen-year-old Wells was found dead two days after he disappeared during a July 4 boat trip to Horn Island off the coast of Mississippi with a group of high school friends.",1024,683,"image/jpeg","2026-08-18T07:44:43-04:00","2026-08-18 11:44:43","2026-08-18T07:55:24-04:00","2026-08-18 11:55:24",[],{"disableConnatixPlayer":41},{"disableAd":41,"disableConnatixPlayer":41,"enabledComments":41,"headScript":10},{"reviewer_name":10},{"id":93,"author":94,"authors":101,"title":103,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":104,"slug":105,"body":106,"categories":107,"tags":109,"featuredMedia":119,"publishedAt":126,"publishedAtGMT":127,"updatedAt":128,"updatedAtGMT":129,"type":39,"listicle":130,"disableContentGate":41,"disableListicleNumbers":41,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"readingTime":42,"customFields":131,"additional":132,"acf":133},72915401,{"id":95,"avatar":96,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":97,"email":98,"username":97,"normalizedUsername":99,"description":10,"htmlBio":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":100},96045,"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DSC09602-2-compress.jpg","Tomas Kassahun","tomas.kassahun@blavity.com","tomas-kassahun","2019-09-06T00:00:00+00:00",[102],{"id":95,"avatar":96,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":97,"email":98,"username":97,"normalizedUsername":99,"description":10,"htmlBio":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":100},"Colin Kaepernick Marks 10 Years Since His Protest With Another $1 Million Pledge To Community Orgs","As he approaches the 10-year anniversary of his iconic protest and refusal to stand for the national anthem, Colin Kaepernick is making a $1 million commitment to some vital community organizations.","colin-kaepernick-renews-1-million-pledge-to-community-orgs","\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As he approaches the 10-year anniversary of his iconic protest and refusal to stand for the national anthem, \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/colin-kaepernick-to-pay-for-trey-reed-second-autopsy\">Colin Kaepernick\u003C/a> is making a $1 million commitment to some vital community organizations. The former \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/florida-threatens-nfl-over-rule-requiring-black-candidates-be-interviewed-for-coaching\">NFL\u003C/a> quarterback announced on Friday that his organization, Know Your Rights Camp, is renewing the Million Dollar Pledge he made a decade ago when he took a stance against police brutality.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“When I made the Million Dollar Pledge in 2016, I wanted to put resources directly into the hands of the organizations and people doing the work in our communities every day,” Kaepernick said in a statement. “The last ten years have shown us that community is the real power, and that when people have the resources to act on their vision, they can transform our communities. Today marks 10 years since I began to protest, and Know Your Rights Camp is renewing the Million Dollar Pledge with another $1 million investment in the organizations and leaders building healthier, safer, and stronger communities.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-which-organizations-are-getting-grants-from-kaepernick-s-know-your-rights-camp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which organizations are getting grants from Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp, which supports projects involving legal rights, education, mental health and other youth programs, has revealed the four organizations which will receive the first $100,000 in grants as part of the Million Dollar Pledge. New York City organizations 100 Suits and Lower Eastside Girls Club will each get a $25,000 grant, KYRC announced.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">100 Suits, the non-profit organization founded by \u003Ca href=\"https://www.100suitsnyc.org/\">Kevin Livingston\u003C/a> in 2011, prepares young people for careers, providing them with professional attire and other resources they need for work. The \u003Ca href=\"https://www.girlsclub.org/about/\">Lower Eastside Girls Club\u003C/a> provides wellness resources for all ages and genders in the community.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">KYRC is also awarding a $25,000 grant to New Orleans-based organization Eternal Seeds and Oakland’s The Hidden Genius Project. \u003Ca href=\"https://grlfvycab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0016CVCbNCACglhlxuaYP49OG8kj-G83tjAbsUEOYJCt9R5f0GuupNKgmw2MR6rqxz6g8LzalAPJvtPaPIASFWS1HT1pcTwXdv4cFl8LbV7JtyHgcLglcax6B-jQ1JH2lsDc2vXIxecjO7kiAPzZ-DhjrE_10hhqH6xj5mZOjWsq-M=&c=BGquSuLkZG4s4ySS3AfLfu1Mp49ZppkSVdnhS6s0JG4SEO7tz4zwkQ==&ch=x2o95I8uP6V2HkuQUigPNRDoS1dreT_tSZb0xF3VDN7ssePLbwK2-Q==\">The Hidden Genius Project\u003C/a> works with Black male youth to help them develop skills and knowledge in technology and entrepreneurship. \u003Ca href=\"https://eternalseeds.com/\">Eternal Seeds\u003C/a> is focused on uplifting emerging artists, providing workshops and resources to help the rising stars show off their artistic skills.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-what-is-the-know-your-rights-camp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the Know Your Rights Camp?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kaepernick and his wife Nessa founded KYRC in 2016 to uplift Black and Brown communities. After he refused to stand for the national anthem during NFL games, as part of his effort to make statement against police brutality, Kaepernick launched an organization to empower marginalized communities.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">“Our mission is to advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities through education, self-empowerment, mass-mobilization and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders,” KYRC states.\u003C/p>\n",[108],{"id":24,"name":25,"slug":26,"description":10,"image":27},[110,114,118],{"id":111,"name":112,"slug":113,"description":10,"image":10},39015,"Colin Kaepernick","colin-kaepernick-2",{"id":115,"name":116,"slug":117,"description":10,"image":10},21301,"Know Your Rights Camp","know-your-rights-camp-2",{"id":72,"name":73,"slug":74,"description":10,"image":10},{"url":120,"thumbnail":121,"credit":122,"title":123,"alt":124,"type":36,"width":81,"height":125,"mimeType":83},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/GettyImages-2287541169.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/GettyImages-2287541169-150x104.jpg","Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images","ACLU Awards Ceremony","WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 24: Former National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick speaks after receiving the newly-established ACLU Ralph Ellison Award for Defenders of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Arts, Business, Science and Sports at the ACLU Awards Ceremony at Washington Hilton on July 24, 2026 in Washington, DC.",711,"2026-08-17T09:05:56-04:00","2026-08-17 13:05:56","2026-08-17T09:07:23-04:00","2026-08-17 13:07:23",[],{"disableConnatixPlayer":41},{"disableAd":41,"disableConnatixPlayer":41,"enabledComments":41,"headScript":10},{"reviewer_name":10},{"id":135,"author":136,"authors":143,"title":145,"subTitle":146,"excerpt":10,"slug":147,"body":148,"categories":149,"tags":154,"featuredMedia":156,"publishedAt":164,"publishedAtGMT":165,"updatedAt":166,"updatedAtGMT":167,"type":39,"listicle":168,"disableContentGate":41,"disableListicleNumbers":41,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"readingTime":169,"customFields":170,"additional":171,"acf":172},72912476,{"id":137,"avatar":138,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":139,"email":140,"username":139,"normalizedUsername":141,"description":10,"htmlBio":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":142},95243,"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/16fdff8cddc7bd4702273ce7e1677d1d0021c4b55e83ca690c8b22edc3cbfdf4?s=1024&r=g","Christopher Rhodes","christopheredward.rhodes@gmail.com","christopher-rhodes","2020-09-14T00:00:00+00:00",[144],{"id":137,"avatar":138,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":139,"email":140,"username":139,"normalizedUsername":141,"description":10,"htmlBio":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":142},"Department Of Defense Cuts List Of Recognized Religions From More Than 200 To Only 31","The move has alarmed advocates for freedom of religion and angered at least one Republican congressman.","department-of-defense-cuts-recognized-religions","\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since being appointed by \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/trump-ends-interview-black-journalist-kristen-welker\">President Trump\u003C/a>, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has stirred up controversy for his vocal campaign against diversity in the U.S. military. This time, the defense secretary appears to be targeting religious pluralism, slashing the number of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/hegseth-directs-dod-drop-hundreds-211819026.html\">religious faiths\u003C/a> that are officially recognized by the armed services. The move has even drawn significant backlash from one member of Congress who feels that his faith has been singled out by the new policy.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Defense Department slashes recognized religions from 211 to 31\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Department of Defense recently issued a memo changing the list of religious faiths officially recognized by the U.S. military. The memo cuts the list of recognized faiths from 211 to only 31.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The memo was signed by Anthony Tata, under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, one of the top officials within the Department of Defense, which the Trump administration has attempted to relabel the Department of War.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the memo, Tata says that he is acting on Hegseth’s orders to “streamline the DoW collection of religious preferences collection for service members to enhance the delivery of targeted religious support from the Chaplaincy.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The revised list removes a number of previously recognized faiths, such as Atheists, Deists, Druids, Eckankar, Heathens, Humanists, New Age churches, Pagans, Shamans, Spiritualists, Unitarian Universalists and Wiccans.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The remaining 31 faiths include mostly Christian denominations, as well as Agnostic, Baha’i Faith, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism, along with two categories for “no religion” or “other religions.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\u003Cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Pentagon reduced the list of recognized religions from 180 down to 31, with just 8 non-Christian religions recognized. \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>This administration is working at (and succeeding) at trying to make us exclusively a Christian nation. \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>The founding fathers would hate this. \u003Ca href=\"https://t.co/4GFbcSdICU\">pic.twitter.com/4GFbcSdICU\u003C/a>\u003C/p>— Mike Hollister 🇺🇸 (@ModernTrailhead) \u003Ca href=\"https://x.com/ModernTrailhead/status/2063308260644397164?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 6, 2026\u003C/a>\u003C/blockquote>\u003Cscript async src=\"https://platform.x.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\">\u003C/script>\n\u003C/div>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘A middle finger’ to the Constitution\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Critics of the new regulations accuse them of violating the First Amendment’s guarantees of religious freedom and prohibition against state establishment of religion.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mikey Weinstein, the co-founder and president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said in a \u003Ca href=\"https://myemail.constantcontact.com/A--Middle-Finger--to-the-Constitution---MRFF-s-Mikey-Weinstein-Reacts-to-Hegseth-s-Slashing-of-180-Faiths-from-Recognized-Religi.html?soid=1101766362531&aid=49jCArumNhM\">press release\u003C/a> that the new policy was a “middle finger to the United States Constitution’s separation of church and state.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He characterized the change from 211 recognized religions to 31 as “another absolute, clear, filthy and disgusting, unconstitutional, immoral and unethical attempt to force only the approved solution, getting closer and closer to Christian nationalism.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A former military chaplain, speaking on condition of anonymity, told \u003Ca href=\"https://www.military.com/dod-officially-drops-180-faiths-from-militarys-recognized-religion-list\">Military.com\u003C/a> that the list was “an excuse for the failure to provide the free exercise of religion for all people.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The former chaplain described the change as “a tragedy and travesty, absolutely,” saying, “As far as I’m concerned, that’s a violation of the United States Constitution.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Republican senators object to relabeling of Mormon Church\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the reduction of religious faiths has alarmed advocates for religious freedom, the new list is also drawing controversy for how it lists one of the faiths that remain recognized.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church, is included on the new list, but it is not listed as a “Christian” denomination, while the Catholic, Orthodox and various Protestant churches maintain the Christian label.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This has angered many Mormons, who feel their faith is being unfairly mislabeled in a way that harkens back to earlier persecution against Mormonism, a religious tradition that has its roots in the 19th-century teachings of American religious leader Joseph Smith.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/insight/utah-senators-challenge-pentagon-over-lds-christian-status/gm-GM8009C860?gemSnapshotKey=GM8009C860-snapshot-1&uxmode=ruby\">Republican Utah Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis\u003C/a>, both members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who represent a state that is predominantly Mormon, have vocally objected to the change.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lee, who has posted dozens of times on social media about the change, calls the labeling “offensive” and “repugnant to any sense of decency and any sense of our common heritage and our common belief that the government needs to not weigh in on doctrinal disputes between various religious denominations.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\u003Cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Mike Lee demands that Pete Hegseth immediately reverse the new Pentagon policy that excludes Mormons from DOD’s list of recognized Christian denominations. He says it is “offensive” and “repugnant.” \u003Ca href=\"https://t.co/NJ6QgYpK9s\">pic.twitter.com/NJ6QgYpK9s\u003C/a>\u003C/p>— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) \u003Ca href=\"https://x.com/RonFilipkowski/status/2063794774574829946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 8, 2026\u003C/a>\u003C/blockquote>\u003Cscript async src=\"https://platform.x.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\">\u003C/script>\n\u003C/div>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lee has called on Hegseth and the Pentagon to change the policy and has claimed to have spoken directly to President Trump about “the Pentagon’s ‘Christian List.’”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\u003Cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I just got off the phone with President Trump \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>We discussed the Pentagon’s “Christian list”\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>I won’t speak for him, but I’m thrilled about where this is heading\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>We’re most fortunate that President Trump (1) loves Latter-day Saints, and (2) is our commander in chief \u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>Stay tuned \u003Ca href=\"https://t.co/ofxMJJHly9\">https://t.co/ofxMJJHly9\u003C/a>\u003C/p>— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) \u003Ca href=\"https://x.com/BasedMikeLee/status/2063841898838552928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 8, 2026\u003C/a>\u003C/blockquote>\u003Cscript async src=\"https://platform.x.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\">\u003C/script>\n\u003C/div>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since taking over at the Pentagon, Hegseth has launched a campaign against diversity, seemingly targeting Black people and other minorities as well as women. Now, his efforts appear to be attempting to promote a much narrower vision of religious diversity as well, drawing rebukes from religious freedom advocates and even members of his own party.\u003C/p>\n",[150],{"id":151,"name":152,"slug":153,"description":10,"image":27},120,"Politics","politics",[155],{"id":72,"name":73,"slug":74,"description":10,"image":10},{"url":157,"thumbnail":158,"credit":159,"title":160,"alt":161,"type":36,"width":162,"height":163,"mimeType":83},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2219947154.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2219947154-150x100.jpg","Photo: Getty Images","Senior man praying outdoors","Senior man with his hands clasped in front of his face in a moment of prayer or deep reflection on the city street",2118,1415,"2026-06-11T08:29:37-04:00","2026-06-11 12:29:37","2026-06-11T08:29:44-04:00","2026-06-11 12:29:44",[],3,{"disableConnatixPlayer":41},{"disableAd":41,"disableConnatixPlayer":41,"enabledComments":41,"headScript":10},{"reviewer_name":10},291,["Reactive",175],{},["Set"],["ShallowReactive",178],{"$Tp5y69NxkZ":27,"L5mKWLzO22":27},"/racial-tension-rampant-in-jacksonville-after-black-boys-are-kicked-out-of-fair-for-wearing-memorial-apparel",["Reactive",181],{"isarticle":182},{"article":41,"cname":10,"iuParts":183},"/11462305847/bla"]