US EditionCoast Guard enacts policy calling swastikas, nooses ‘potentially divisive,’ not hate symbols
The Coast Guard's revised harassment manual reclassifies swastikas and nooses as 'potentially divisive,' narrowing reporting windows and requiring legal review before removal, amid rising antisemitism.
- On Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard posted a new workplace harassment manual online that cancels its prior version and downgrades swastikas and nooses as `potentially divisive`.
- Last month, The Washington Post first reported the planned revision and the Trump administration initially dismissed it as false; within hours, Adm. Kevin Lunday issued a Nov. 20 memo denouncing swastikas and nooses and insisting they remain prohibited.
- Leading Democrats and Jewish groups argued the policy downgrade is dangerous; Sen. Tim Kaine demanded reversal to protect readiness, while Deborah Lipstadt called the decision `terrifying`.
- At a House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee hearing Tuesday, Democrats pressed Adm. Kevin Lunday as his nomination faces a Senate confirmation vote later this week, with oversight options including briefings or hearings.
- The downgrade arrives days after at least 15 people were killed at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia amid rising antisemitism globally, and critics warn it risks normalizing hateful symbols and harming service members' safety and unit cohesion.
23 Articles
23 Articles
U.S. Coast Guard policy change regarding swastikas, nooses draws concern
Members of Richmond’s Jewish community are raising concerns after the U.S. Coast Guard implemented a new workplace harassment policy that reclassifies symbols like swastikas and nooses as "potentially divisive," rather than explicitly labeling them as hate symbols.
Noem says Coast Guard will remove divisive language on hate symbols from policy
The Coast Guard will remove divisive language from its new workplace harassment policy that downgraded the definition of swastikas and nooses from hate symbols to “potentially divisive,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday. Noem’s announcement, made over social media, comes after the military branch allowed the more lenient language to quietly take effect Monday, [...]
Noem lashes out at 'demonstrably false' report on Coast Guard's swastika policy move
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took to X on Thursday to vehemently deny that the U.S. Coast Guard is loosening restrictions on hate symbols like swastikas and nooses to "potentially divisive," amid a weekslong story of controversial back-and-forths on the policy.Her statement comes as multiple Senate Democrats, including Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), have placed a block on the promotion of Adm. James Lunday, a pro…
The Forward
St. Louis Jewish LightJewish groups condemn Coast Guard for secret swastika policy change
(JTA) — After the Washington Post reported last month that the U.S. Coast Guard was reclassifying swastikas and nooses to no longer be considered hate symbols, Jewish leaders voiced their objections. The Coast Guard’s acting commandant, claiming the report was inaccurate, sought to assure them. There would be no change to its categorization of the symbols, Admiral Kevin Lunday told Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner in emails with the head of the Union for …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
