Coast Guard No Longer Classifying Swastika as 'Hate Symbol'

"The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer be identifying the swastika as a hate symbol under new guidelines set to take effect next month, according to The Washington Post. The Post reviewed documents laying out the new guidelines, which take effect on December 15, and the swastika Nazi-era symbol will not be classified as potentially divisive. The Confederate flag and nooses are also reportedly seeing their classifications downgraded from the previous brand of hate symbols."

"The official also took issue with the new 45-day deadlines, arguing the deadline could be potentially problematic for service members being deployed. If you are at sea, and your shipmate has a swastika in their rack, and you are a Black person or Jew, and you are going to be stuck at sea with them for the next 60 days, are you going to feel safe reporting that up your chain of command? the official said."

The U.S. Coast Guard will stop classifying the swastika as a potentially divisive hate symbol under new guidelines effective December 15. The policy also downgrades classifications for the Confederate flag and nooses, though Confederate flags remain prohibited from display. Potentially divisive symbol displays must be investigated by a supervisor who then consults the legal office. The guidelines impose a 45-day reporting deadline for incidents where none existed before. An anonymous Coast Guard official warned the change undermines trust and that the 45-day deadline could be problematic for deployed service members. The change is part of broader military reforms and retires the term "hate incidents," reprocessing such conduct as harassment reports.

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