Coast Guard Reverses Noem's Embrace of Swastikas and Nooses
The embattled Homeland Security secretary’s plan to ease hate symbol rules totally backfired, prompting swift reversal to prohibit divisive symbols in all Coast Guard facilities.
WASHINGTON — The United States Coast Guard reversed course late Thursday, reclassifying swastikas and nooses as banned hate symbols after a wave of bipartisan condemnation over Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem’s plan to label them merely “potentially divisive” under new departmental guidelines.
The reversal came hours after Washington Post revealed the scheduled December 15 policy change, which had triggered sharp rebukes from lawmakers, civil rights advocates, and rank-and-file Coast Guard officials.
Sudden Turnaround Amid Uproar
Lawmakers from both parties, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Senator Mike Rounds, had characterized the downgrade as “disgusting” and “ill-advised,” accusing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of enabling extremism within military ranks.
A Coast Guard official described the initial policy as “chilling,” warning it blurred the line on national trust regarding symbols long associated with genocide and lynching.
Hours a…