OAN’s Abril Elfi
7:15 PM – Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough (D-Minn.) has reversed a plan to ban the famous World War II kiss photo that was taken in New York’s Times Square.
On Tuesday, McDonough took on social media to announce that the image was not banned and will be kept in all the medical facilities.
“Let me be clear: This image is not banned from VA facilities – and we will keep it in VA facilities,” McDonough stated.
The post was sent out several hours after a copy of a memo written by VA assistant secretary for health and operations RimaAnn Nelson was extensively circulated on social media.
On February 29th,a memo was sent to Veteran Integrated Services Network Directions requesting that the photo be removed in all VA facilities to maintain a “safe, respectful and a trauma-informed environment.”
Nelson wrote that the photo “depicts a non-consensual act” which is “inconsistent with the VA’s no-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment and assault.”
The VA stated that the memo was authentic but that it should not have been sent out.
“A memo was sent out that should not have been, and it has been rescinded,” a spokesperson said.
In the memo, it was acknowledged that the photo is “iconic” ” and was originally seen as “a symbol of victory and the joyous end to the long and devastating conflict.”
“However, perspectives on historical events and their representations evolve. Recent discussions have highlighted concerns about the nonconsensual nature of the kiss,” Nelson wrote.
She continued by stating that some employees have complained about the photo “as a tacit endorsement of the inappropriate behavior it depicts.”
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