Coast Guard set to change policy to call swastikas and nooses ‘potentially divisive’

WASHINGTON AP The U S Coast Guard is poised to change a few of its language and policies surrounding the display of hate symbols like swastikas and nooses as well as how personnel review hate incidents The institution stressed however that the symbols will remain prohibited The updated framework is seen by the Coast Guard as a way to strengthen its ability to account investigate and prosecute violators Any display use or promotion of such symbols as consistently will be thoroughly investigated and severely punished Admiral Kevin Lunday acting commandant of the Coast Guard noted in a report A Coast Guard message in from then-Commandant Karl Schultz reported symbols like swastikas and nooses were widely identified with oppression or hatred and called their display a prospective hate matter The Coast Guard guidelines dated this month calls those same symbols potentially divisive adversely affecting morale discipline unit cohesion and mission effectiveness The new agenda maintains a yearslong prohibition on publicly displaying the Confederate flag outside of a handful of situations such as educational or historical settings However it does not outright ban the symbols saying the agenda does not apply to private spaces outside of citizens view such as family housing The new Coast Guard agenda which is set to take effect on Dec and was first revealed by The Washington Post is facing pushback Democratic Sen Jacky Rosen of Nevada stated that this updated procedures rolls back key protections against bigotry and could allow for horrifically hateful symbols like swastikas and nooses to be inexplicably permitted to be displayed At a time when antisemitism is rising in the United States and around the world relaxing policies aimed at fighting hate crimes not only sends the wrong message to the men and women of our Coast Guard but it puts their safety at peril she added Lunday disclosed the approach does not roll back any prohibitions calling it categorically false to claim otherwise These symbols have been and remain prohibited in the Coast Guard per guidelines Lunday reported in a comment adding that any display use or promotion of such symbols as dependably will be thoroughly investigated and severely punished Lunday s predecessor Admiral Linda Fagan was fired on President Donald Trump s first day in office Trump officers later announced she fired in part for putting an excessive focus on diversity and inclusion efforts that diverted guidance and attention from operational imperatives The new initiative explicitly says that the terminology hate matter is no longer present in initiative and conduct that would have previously been handled as a promising hate happening will now be treated as a document of harassment in cases with an identified aggrieved individual Commanders in consultation with lawyers may order or direct the removal of potentially divisive symbols or flags if they are uncovered to be affecting the unit s morale or discipline according to the protocol The Coast Guard is under the Department of Homeland Defense but it is still considered a part of America s armed forces and the new protocol was updated in part to be consistent with similar Pentagon directives according to a Coast Guard message announcing the changes It also has historically modeled a multitude of of its human tools policies on other military services The framework change comes less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a review of all the hazing bullying and harassment definitions across the military arguing that the policies were overly broad and they were jeopardizing combat readiness mission accomplishment and trust in the organization The Pentagon could not offer any details about what the review was specifically looking at if it could lead to similar changes as seen in the Coast Guard guidelines or when the review would be complete Menachem Rosensaft a law professor at Cornell University and a Jewish locality leader noted in a comment that the swastika is the ultimate symbol of virulent hate and bigotry and even a consideration by the Coast Guard to no longer classify it as such would be equivalent to dismissing the Ku Klux Klan s burning crosses and hoods as merely potentially divisive Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the move disgusting and it s more encouragement from the Republicans of extremism Haigh broadcasted from Norwich Conn