The superintendent of a top US military academy resigned from his post-Monday after the Virginia governor ordered an investigation into accusations of systemic racism at the school. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-black-lives-matter-is-a-symbol-of-hate-310187">Also read: Trump says Black Lives Matter is a 'symbol of hate'</a>

In a letter released by Virginia Military Institute (VMI), retired general JH Binford Peay III said Democratic Governor Ralph Northam had "lost confidence in my leadership" and "desired my resignation."

Peay, 80, had been the head of one of the oldest military universities in the country for 17 years.

Since the death of African American George Floyd during an arrest by police in May, the US military -- one of the country's institutions where minorities are most represented -- has opened up a major internal debate on race.

Black students and graduates of VMI shared on social media incidents where school officials were allegedly indifferent to racist insults from fellow cadets, undeserved punishment, even racist musings of teachers.

Last month, the magazine The Root published interviews with several black VMI students. One recounted how one teacher fondly mentioned her father, a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Another described how first-year cadets are ordered to salute a statue of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, a general that fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the US Civil War, every time they pass by.

Northam last week ordered a probe into "the clear and appalling culture of ongoing structural racism at the Virginia Military Institute," which receives public funding.

Black cadets at VMI told The Root they had protested "the glorification of the Confederacy" but said the school's leadership would not acknowledge the racist nature of the institution's culture, instead of calling it "tradition."

The superintendent of a top US military academy resigned from his post-Monday after the Virginia governor ordered an investigation into accusations of systemic racism at the school.

The superintendent of a top US military academy resigned from his post-Monday after the Virginia governor ordered an investigation into accusations of systemic racism at the school. Also read: Trump says Black Lives Matter is a 'symbol of hate' In a letter released by Virginia Military Institute (VMI), retired general JH Binford Peay III said Democratic Governor Ralph Northam had "lost confidence in my leadership" and "desired my resignation." Peay, 80, had been the head of one of the oldest military universities in the country for 17 years. Since the death of African American George Floyd during an arrest by police in May, the US military -- one of the country's institutions where minorities are most represented -- has opened up a major internal debate on race. Black students and graduates of VMI shared on social media incidents where school officials were allegedly indifferent to racist insults from fellow cadets, undeserved punishment, even racist musings of teachers. Last month, the magazine The Root published interviews with several black VMI students. One recounted how one teacher fondly mentioned her father, a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Another described how first-year cadets are ordered to salute a statue of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, a general that fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the US Civil War, every time they pass by. Northam last week ordered a probe into "the clear and appalling culture of ongoing structural racism at the Virginia Military Institute," which receives public funding. Black cadets at VMI told The Root they had protested "the glorification of the Confederacy" but said the school's leadership would not acknowledge the racist nature of the institution's culture, instead of calling it "tradition."

Head of US military academy resigns amid ‘systemic racism’ probe 

The parents of black teenager Michael Brown and the city of Ferguson, Missouri, have settled a lawsuit over his fatal shooting by a white city police officer in 2014, according to a court document filed on Monday.

Brown&#39;s death triggered sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and around the United States, fuelled by later police killings of unarmed black men in other cities. It also helped spark debate about racial bias in the US&nbsp;justice system.

Terms of the wrongful death settlement between Ferguson and Brown&#39;s parents, Michael Brown Sr&nbsp;and Lesley McSpadden, were not disclosed. US&nbsp;District Judge E&nbsp;Richard Webber approved the settlement and ordered it sealed.

&quot;The gross settlement amount is fair and reasonable compensation for this wrongful death claim and is in the best interests of each plaintiff,&quot; Webber wrote.

Both James Knowles, the mayor of the blue-collar, largely black St. Louis suburb, and Anthony Gray, the lead attorney for Brown&#39;s parents, declined to comment.

Brown and McSpadden, his ex-wife, sued the city, former Police Chief Tom Jackson, and former police officer Darren Wilson in 2015. Wilson shot Brown, 18, multiple times after a confrontation in August 2014 as Brown and a friend walked through their neighbourhood.

Images of the teen&#39;s body, which lay in the street for more than four hours, and an aftermath in which police officials defended Wilson&#39;s actions and characterised Brown as a thief, enraged many in the black community.

A federal probe of Brown&#39;s killing found systematic racial discrimination that targeted black residents and created a &quot;toxic environment&quot; in Ferguson.

The report said the city overwhelmingly arrested and issued traffic citations to blacks to boost city coffers, used police as a collection agency and fomented a culture of distrust that exploded when Brown was shot.

A grand jury decided not to charge Wilson, and the US&nbsp;Justice Department declined to bring any charges of civil rights violations against him.

Brown&#39;s death helped spark the &quot;Black Lives Matter&quot; movement protesting what was widely seen as the use of unrestrained lethal force against minorities by police.

(Reuters)

The terms of the wrongful death settlement between Brown's family and city officials have not been disclosed in public

The parents of black teenager Michael Brown and the city of Ferguson, Missouri, have settled a lawsuit over his fatal shooting by a white city police officer in 2014, according to a court document filed on Monday. Brown's death triggered sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and around the United States, fuelled by later police killings of unarmed black men in other cities. It also helped spark debate about racial bias in the US justice system. Terms of the wrongful death settlement between Ferguson and Brown's parents, Michael Brown Sr and Lesley McSpadden, were not disclosed. US District Judge E Richard Webber approved the settlement and ordered it sealed. "The gross settlement amount is fair and reasonable compensation for this wrongful death claim and is in the best interests of each plaintiff," Webber wrote. Both James Knowles, the mayor of the blue-collar, largely black St. Louis suburb, and Anthony Gray, the lead attorney for Brown's parents, declined to comment. Brown and McSpadden, his ex-wife, sued the city, former Police Chief Tom Jackson, and former police officer Darren Wilson in 2015. Wilson shot Brown, 18, multiple times after a confrontation in August 2014 as Brown and a friend walked through their neighbourhood. Images of the teen's body, which lay in the street for more than four hours, and an aftermath in which police officials defended Wilson's actions and characterised Brown as a thief, enraged many in the black community. A federal probe of Brown's killing found systematic racial discrimination that targeted black residents and created a "toxic environment" in Ferguson. The report said the city overwhelmingly arrested and issued traffic citations to blacks to boost city coffers, used police as a collection agency and fomented a culture of distrust that exploded when Brown was shot. A grand jury decided not to charge Wilson, and the US Justice Department declined to bring any charges of civil rights violations against him. Brown's death helped spark the "Black Lives Matter" movement protesting what was widely seen as the use of unrestrained lethal force against minorities by police. (Reuters)

Michael Brown: Ferguson settles lawsuit over black teenager killed by police officer in Missouri

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