West Virginia Prison Guard Trainees Make Nazi Salute

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports:

A number of West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation employees are suspended and West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is calling for some terminations after a photo surfaced that shows more than 30 participants in a basic training class doing a Nazi salute.

The cabinet secretary for the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety has sent a letter to all employees of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation condemning the photo. The class was conducted Oct. 21 through Nov. 27.

The photo, on state letterhead, shows almost all of Basic Training Class No. 18 displaying the Nazi salute. Text above the photo reads: “HAIL BYRD!” Brian Abraham, an attorney for Gov. Jim Justice, said Thursday the “Hail Byrd” line refers to the training class’s director.

BREAKING: Photo released that has led to numerous DOC employees being suspended pic.twitter.com/Lee98ldVl2

— Leslie Rubin (@LeslieRubinWCHS) December 5, 2019