The US Coast Guard denied claims it’s revising its policies to reclassify hate symbols, including the swastika and nooses, as “potentially divisive” symbols — slamming the suggestion as “categorically false.”
The claim, first reported by the Washington Post on Thursday afternoon, picks apart the Coast Guard’s “Harassing Behavior Prevention, Response, and Accountability” manual that was approved this month.
The military branch flatly denied the outlet’s report that it was planning to reclassify its list of hate symbols.
“The claims that the U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses or other extremist imagery as prohibited symbols are categorically false,” Admiral Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the US Coast Guard, wrote in a statement on X. “These symbols have been and remain prohibited in the Coast Guard per policy. Any display, use or promotion of such symbols, as always, will be thoroughly investigated and severely punished.”
“The Coast Guard remains unwavering in its commitment to fostering a safe, respectful and professional workplace. Symbols such as swastikas, nooses and other extremist or racist imagery violate our core values and are treated with the seriousness they warrant under current policy.”
The Coast Guard harassment manual lists six major changes coming to its policies.
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