Swastika and Confederate Flag: US Coast Guard Relaxes Rules on Hate Symbols

On December 15, a new Coast Guard policy will come into effect in the United States that will no longer classify the swastika and the Confederate flag as hate symbols.

Instead, they will receive the status of ‘potentially divisive,’ The Washington Post reports.

The previous version of the documents directly defined these symbols as manifestations of hatred and racial intolerance. Now, their display will not automatically be considered an incident, but only subject to management review after consultation with legal counsel.

In a statement, Acting Commander Admiral Kevin Lunday said that such symbols remain ‘prohibited’ and contrary to the values of the service. At the same time, the new version of the rules leaves open the possibility of their existence without immediate removal, which has caused concern among the personnel.

Coast Guard officials explained the changes as an effort to “simplify administrative requirements.” The new policy could create a dangerous environment for the military, especially during long maritime missions where fellow service members are forced to be close to those who display such symbols.

In a letter to Lunday, Rabbi John Pesner said that the swastika cannot be viewed as anything other than a symbol of hatred and that its legalization in the military is “a stain on the Coast Guard’s reputation.”

The previous 2019 rules gave commanders the right to remove swastikas and other prohibited symbols even without an official determination of the incident as ‘hate’. The new version of the policy changes the approach and sets a clear deadline for filing complaints – 45 days.