The military's top leaders have issued separate statements condemning racism following a white nationalist rally that turned violent over the weekend in Charlottesville, Va.
Adm. John Richardson, head of the Navy, was first to address the issue, tweeting on Saturday that the events were "shameful" and "unacceptable, and that the Navy should save violence "only for our enemies."
Others joined in on Wednesday, in a move the Los Angeles Times saw as distancing themselves from President Donald Trump, their commander in chief.
Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark A. Milley, said his branch "doesn't tolerate racism, extremism, or hatred in our ranks. It's against our Values and everything we've stood for since 1775."
Gen. Robert Neller, head of the Marines, said Tuesday that there is "No place for racial hatred or extremism in [the] USMC. … Our core values of honor, courage, and commitment frame the way Marines live and act."
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein tweeted that he stood "together with my fellow service chiefs in saying that we're always stronger together."
Air Force chief of staff Gen. David Goldfein and chief of the National Guard Bureau, Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel said on Wednesday they "stand with" their fellow service leaders.
"We're always stronger together," Goldfein wrote, while Lengyl said, "Our diversity is our strength."
Stars and Stripes reported that Defense officials said they were not aware of any active-duty service members who were under investigation for involvement in the protests, though the Navy said it is investigating allegations a reservist may have taken part.
Many involved were veterans of the military however, and James Alex Fields, Jr., who has been charged in the death of counter-protester Heather Heyer, "washed out" of Army basic training after four months, according to Stars and Stripes.
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