Coast Guard enacts policy calling swastikas, nooses 'potentially divisive'

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12. MaddowBlog-Coast Guard reverses its reversal, labels swastikas and nooses as 'potentially divisive'

A backlash is brewing in Congress over the downgrading of hate symbols in the Coast Guard’s workplace harassment policy.

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https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/coast-guard-labels-swastikas-nooses-potentially-divisive

The evidence suggested otherwise. Indeed, as the public learned of the proposed guidelines and outrage over the change grew, officials did exactly what many predicted they would do: On Nov. 21, less than a full day after the Post’s initial report was published, the Coast Guard reversed course in a move that the newspaper described as “stunning and lightning-fast.” Under the revised policy, swastikas and nooses would be considered “hate symbols.”

That was not, however, the final word on the subject. The Post is now reporting that the reversal has been reversed:

The U.S. Coast Guard has allowed a new workplace harassment policy to take effect that downgrades the definition of swastikas and nooses from overt hate symbols to ‘potentially divisive’ despite an uproar over the new language that forced the service’s top officer to direct that both would remain prohibited.

The new policy went into effect Monday, according to written correspondence that the Coast Guard provided to Congress this week, a copy of which was reviewed by The Washington Post. The manual is posted online and makes clear that its previous version ‘is cancelled.’

The same report, which has not been independently verified by MS NOW, noted that a DHS spokesperson called the latest reporting “pathetic” and “false,” though her statement did not address “why the language downgrading nooses and swastikas to ‘potentially divisive’ symbols, rather than hate symbols, was allowed to remain in the new policy.”....

Blumenthal added in his correspondence, “Granting hate symbols like swastikas and nooses even an ounce of respectability is absolutely an anathema. This edict besmirches the Coast Guard’s honor, and DHS should be ashamed. At a time when antisemitic and racist violence are at unconscionable levels, it is absolutely appalling that DHS is doubling down on such a hateful, destructive policy.”

Noem has not yet commented publicly. Watch this space.