R 281630Z SEP 07 ZUI ASN-A00271000010
 FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
 TO ALLHANDS
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 UNCLAS //N01000//
 SUBJ: WHERE I STAND
 1. TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE COAST GUARD: MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE
 OF TWO RECENT RACIAL INCIDENTS AT THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY, THE
 FIRST IN WHICH A NOOSE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE PERSONAL BELONGINGS OF
 A CADET ABOARD EAGLE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, A SECOND ONE WAS FOUND IN
 THE ACADEMY ASSISTANT CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICER'S OFFICE.
 2. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER. THE COAST GUARD INVESTIGATIVE
 SERVICE HAS LAUNCHED A FULL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION TO HELP IDENTIFY
 ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE, SO THAT THEY MAY BE HELD
 ACCOUNTABLE. THIS TYPE OF RACIST CONDUCT, LIKE OTHER FORMS OF
 DISCRIMINATION, RUNS COUNTER TO OUR CORE VALUES AND WILL NOT BE
 TOLERATED. NOR WILL IT EVER GO UNCHALLENGED.
 3. THE COAST GUARD'S MISSION IS TO BE A LIFESAVER AND GUARDIAN.
 WE HELP PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEED US MOST, AND WE PROTECT AND DEFEND
 THE CONSTITUTION. IT IS INCONCEIVABLE TO ME TO IGNORE THAT WHEN IT
 COMES TO OUR OWN PEOPLE. IT IS CONTRARY TO OUR ORGANIZATIONAL
 ETHOS, CORE VALUES, AND WHAT THE PUBLIC EXPECTS FROM US. I WILL
 NOT TOLERATE IT, AND YOU SHOULD NOT TOLERATE IT.
 4. I WILL BE MEETING WITH ACADEMY CADETS, FACULTY AND STAFF NEXT
 WEEK TO REITERATE MY PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO THE RESPECTFUL
 TREATMENT OF ALL. I'M PLEASED THAT CONGRESSMAN ELIJAH CUMMINGS,
 CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COAST GUARD AND MARITIME
 TRANSPORTATION, WILL ACCOMPANY MY DIRECTOR OF CIVIL RIGHTS, MS.
 TERRI DICKERSON, AND ME TO THE ACADEMY.
 5. A PELORUS (PUBLIC AFFAIRS FACT SHEET) CONTAINING ADDITIONAL
 DETAILS ON THE INCIDENTS AND ACTIONS TAKEN IS POSTED IN THE
 COMMANDANT'S CORNER OF CG CENTRAL HTTP://CGCENTRAL.USCG.MIL/
 6. ADMIRAL THAD ALLEN SENDS.
 7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
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