Oswald's "Handcuffed Communist Salute"

[Thomas Graves]

Says the arrogant hypocrite who’s always correcting everyone’s grammar and spelling.

You poor thing, you.

[Charles Collins]

Since when are the speculative opinions of a writer evidence?

The evidence is the salute. Here’s a speculative opinion:

... a picture of a guy showing a reporter his handcuffed hands.

[Charles Collins]

I haven't did a study of human gestures, but it seems to me that it would be natural for a person to close his hand when holding it up ....  Raising an open hand indicates that the person wants to ask, or answer, a question......

Here is what a relaxed hand posture looks like:

https://images.app.goo.gl/CKR2pbvdRJ31QyxV7

The clenched fist is not what would be expected if he was merely showing his handcuffed wrists. DeGrilla lists some very good reasons to believe it is the communist salute.

[Martin Weidmann]

The evidence is the salute. Here’s a speculative opinion:

Amazing what you call "evidence".

And, pray tell, without using a massive amount of imagination and speculation, what is "the salute" actually "evidence" of?

[Charles Collins]

Amazing what you call "evidence".

And, pray tell, without using a massive amount of imagination and speculation, what is "the salute" actually "evidence" of?

More evidence from DeGrilla’s “Malcontent”:




A limited number of authors have elaborated on Oswald’s clenched-fist salute gesture. Anthony Summers published Conspiracy in 1980 and Summers interviewed Detective Combest in August 1978. In the 1978 interview Combest also said that Oswald accompanied his headshaking with ‘a definite clenched-fist salute.’ This cannot be taken as good evidence of a political gesture, given Oswald’s condition at the moment. It may indeed have been an expression of pain. Combest said nothing about the ‘salute’ in his statements on Warren Commission testimony.[ 234]

Summers’ argument can be broken down into several parts. First, the clenched-fist salute is a specific action that involves deliberate physical movement. Oswald was not writhing on the ground in agony on the basement floor, twisting and turning, or convulsing. On the contrary, even though Oswald was indeed in severe pain, he was stationary and supine. Oswald made two deliberate physical movements in response to the pleading of Detective Combest trying to elicit a dying declaration. When asked if there was anything he wanted to say, Oswald deliberately shook his head several times, indicating “no.” Detective Combest persisted. Oswald, as he had previously done in the third-floor hallway, raised his hands in a clenched-fist position. These two actions were intentional, and Oswald made no other movements. Oswald lost consciousness shortly after raising his clenched-fist salute.

Summers’ opinion is that it might not have been a salute. DeGrilla disagrees with Summers’ opinion. You are free to form your own opinion. But the evidence is there.

[Martin Weidmann]

More evidence from DeGrilla’s “Malcontent”:




A limited number of authors have elaborated on Oswald’s clenched-fist salute gesture. Anthony Summers published Conspiracy in 1980 and Summers interviewed Detective Combest in August 1978. In the 1978 interview Combest also said that Oswald accompanied his headshaking with ‘a definite clenched-fist salute.’ This cannot be taken as good evidence of a political gesture, given Oswald’s condition at the moment. It may indeed have been an expression of pain. Combest said nothing about the ‘salute’ in his statements on Warren Commission testimony.[ 234]

Summers’ argument can be broken down into several parts. First, the clenched-fist salute is a specific action that involves deliberate physical movement. Oswald was not writhing on the ground in agony on the basement floor, twisting and turning, or convulsing. On the contrary, even though Oswald was indeed in severe pain, he was stationary and supine. Oswald made two deliberate physical movements in response to the pleading of Detective Combest trying to elicit a dying declaration. When asked if there was anything he wanted to say, Oswald deliberately shook his head several times, indicating “no.” Detective Combest persisted. Oswald, as he had previously done in the third-floor hallway, raised his hands in a clenched-fist position. These two actions were intentional, and Oswald made no other movements. Oswald lost consciousness shortly after raising his clenched-fist salute.

Summers’ opinion is that it might not have been a salute. DeGrilla disagrees with Summers’ opinion. You are free to form your own opinion. But the evidence is there.

Amazing what some people call "evidence" nowadays....

Almost as bad as "he left his ring in Irving, which proves he killed Kennedy".....

What's next?

[John Iacoletti]

Amazing what some people call "evidence" nowadays....

Almost as bad as "he left his ring in Irving, which proves he killed Kennedy".....

What's next?

Confirmation bias is a remarkable thing.

Does Charles think these guys are doing a “communist salute” too?

[Charles Collins]

Confirmation bias is a remarkable thing.

Does Charles think these guys are doing a “communist salute” too?

It is a matter of context.