Swastikas and nooses, long-standing emblems of hatred, remain banned in the Coast Guard, despite a recent report suggesting otherwise. The service swiftly denied allegations that it would downgrade such symbols to merely "potentially divisive."
The issue began after a Washington Post report said the Coast Guard planned to label symbols like swastikas and nooses as less explicitly hateful. According to The Hill, the document cited by the outlet shows the change would come from the Department of Homeland Security.
Acting Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday pushed back hard, stating, "The claims that the U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses or other extremist imagery as prohibited symbols are categorically false." If that's not clear enough, perhaps the Post missed the memo on what "prohibited" means.
Policy Update Sparks Confusion and Backlash
The Post's report pointed to a new policy, set to take effect on Dec. 15, which allegedly labels such symbols as "potentially divisive" and requires supervisors to investigate and consult legal offices before removal. This shift, if true, seems to add unnecessary bureaucracy to confronting blatant hate.
Under the updated rules, personnel reportedly have 45 days to report displays of swastikas or nooses, a timeframe that raises questions about urgency in addressing toxic environments. Why delay when the message of such imagery is immediate and vile?
The Coast Guard's 2019 guidance was far more direct, listing swastikas, nooses, and Confederate symbols as constituting "potential hate incidents" due to their co-option by hate-based groups. That clarity seems muddled now, and muddled policy often breeds muddled enforcement.
DHS and Coast Guard Slam the Report
DHS didn't mince words, calling the Post's story an "absolute ludicrous lie and unequivocally false" on social media. Their frustration is palpable, and one wonders if the rush to publish sensational claims outpaced basic fact-checking.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin doubled down on X, stating, "The @washingtonpost should be embarrassed it published this fake crap." It's a sharp rebuke, and frankly, when a federal agency calls out a major outlet like this, it’s worth asking who got the story wrong.
Later that day, the Coast Guard itself told the Post it would review the language of the new policy, with spokesperson Jennifer Plozai confirming, "We will be reviewing the language." So, perhaps there’s some fire behind the smoke, even if the flames aren't as wild as first reported.
Political Reaction and Historical Weight
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, weighed in with a pointed statement: "The debate on these symbols is over. They symbolize hate." He's not wrong; history settled this long ago, and no amount of policy jargon should obscure that truth.
Larsen's call for the Coast Guard to "be better" reflects a broader concern that even the perception of leniency on hate symbols undermines trust in institutions. If the policy truly isn't changing, then the communication around it certainly needs a serious overhaul.
The Coast Guard's new policy, published this month, reportedly drops the term "hate incident" and processes such matters as harassment or under other guidelines. This linguistic shuffle might aim for precision, but it risks diluting the visceral reality of what these symbols represent.
Commitment to Values Must Stand Firm
Adm. Lunday reaffirmed in his statement that the Coast Guard is "unwavering in its commitment to fostering a safe, respectful and professional workplace." That's the right tone, but actions and clear policies will always speak louder than reassurances.
Symbols like swastikas and nooses aren't just divisive; they are deliberate tools of intimidation with blood-soaked histories. Any policy that even hints at softening their condemnation opens the door to normalizing what should remain unthinkable.
In the end, the Coast Guard must ensure its rules match its rhetoric, cutting through any ambiguity that could be exploited by those who peddle hate. The public, and the brave men and women serving, deserve nothing less than an ironclad stand against such poison.
