U.S. Coast Guard policy change regarding swastikas, nooses draws concern

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Members of Richmond’s Jewish community are raising concerns after the U.S. Coast Guard implemented a new workplace harassment policy that reclassifies symbols like swastikas and nooses as "potentially divisive," rather than explicitly labeling them as hate symbols.

Ephraim Seidman, an advocate in the Jewish community, criticized the policy change.

"Hate is hate -- there is no nuance to it," Seidman said.

Seidman said he feels the reclassification undermines the history behind the symbols.

"I'm not in the Coast Guard, but just the fact that someone would think these aren't symbols of hate is problematic," he said. "They are symbols of hate. I don't think they would think there's any nuance to a noose [or] swastika, pure hate. So, I don't understand. It doesn't make any sense to me. It's disappointing and I’m frustrated."

According to the Washington Post, the policy change drew opposition from U.S. senators even as it was being considered -- but the update moved forward despite this.

The vote to confirm acting Coast Guard head Admiral Kevin Lunday is now on hold while senators seek accountability and answers, even though Lunday reportedly spoke out against the change before it was implemented.

"It's been a little confusing to follow the train -- but I just don't understand why the change was ever made," Seidman said. "I don't know the rationale behind it, and it's scary for not just me as a Jew, but I think it should be scary for everybody."

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) denounced the policy change in the following statement:

"This policy must be reversed immediately. Allowing racism and antisemitism to fester in our armed forces is wrong, harmful to our military readiness, and makes all of us less safe. Americans across the country were disgusted when news about this proposed change broke last month. I had hoped the Trump Administration was sufficiently shamed into backtracking when it called that reporting an ‘absolute ludicrous lie and unequivocally false.’ By moving forward with this absurdly dangerous policy, it’s clear this Administration will stop at nothing to reach a new low."

State Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) also spoke out against the change with the following statement:

"These symbols have no place in our U.S. Coast Guard or any other military branch. The men and women who bravely serve in our armed forces do so with the highest level of professionalism, and policies regarding conduct and standards should be clear and enforced consistently."

In a social media post, the U.S. Coast Guard said it "maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward hate symbols," but it did not clarify whether the workplace manual will be amended.

8News has reached out to Gov. Glenn Youngkin's (R) office for a statement, but we have not heard back as of the time of reporting.