Military was told to purge "extremists" after Jan. 6 -- so it went after a Black Muslim officer [View all]

[Demovictory9]

Military was told to purge "extremists" after Jan. 6 — so it went after a Black Muslim officer

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She had a spotless disciplinary record, at least until she made her conversion public and changed her name. "I've never been in any type of military trouble," she said. "I've never received a letter of reprimand, a letter of concern. I've never received an Article 15 [a "non-judicial punishment"], never received any type of military or civilian punishment. I've definitely gotten speeding tickets. But I've never been in any type of trouble with the law."

Lt. Khadijah Simmons had a spotless disciplinary record — until she made her conversion public and became Lt. Khadijah X.

After Khadijah Simmons became Khadijah X in July 2021, registering her new name at an Arizona courthouse and with Social Security, she got her military uniforms changed as well. When she returned to work, "Initially there were a few weird looks, which I had expected," she said. "A few people asked me why I did it. I just said, 'For personal reasons' and that I'm a Muslim. Other than that, really nothing to my face."

But as summer turned to fall, things changed. Lt. X says that by last November, she became "super uncomfortable," and finally asked her commanding officer for a transfer to another unit. That request was granted, and she became an assistant to the battalion executive officer, or XO. "It was 10 times better. I didn't feel like I was walking on eggshells," she said. "People were just more accepting and welcoming."

Somewhat mysteriously, a simultaneous AR 15-6 investigation was launched into Lt. X, alleging "misconduct and substandard performance." She was appointed a military defense counsel, who would not comment for this story but referred Salon to Tracy Riley, chair of the Louisiana NAACP's Legal Redress Committee, who discussed a similar case that emerged last year. (More on that below.)


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/military-was-told-to-purge-extremists-after-jan-6-so-it-went-after-a-black-muslim-officer/ar-AAX342j