Swastikas and Nooses No Longer Hate Symbols, Says Who?
The U.S. Coast Guard is updating its civil rights policy, and starting next month it will no longer label swastikas or nooses as “hate symbols.” Instead, these images will be described as “potentially divisive.” This change is part of a larger shift that also softens how the Coast Guard handles Confederate symbols. A comparison of the 2023 and 2025 policies shows that the older version clearly listed swastikas, nooses, and Confederate flags as possible hate incidents, while the new version removes that list and leaves more room for interpretation.
This policy change comes after directives from the Trump administration to ease rules on hazing and harassment. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the previous guidelines were too broad and needed revision. With the new wording, decisions about what counts as a violation may depend more on individual judgment and specific situations.
