Statement From House Bipartisan Task Force For Combating Antisemitism Cochairs Reps. Goldman, Fitzpatrick, Stevens, Veasey, Lieu And Meng On The Decision Downgrading Swastikas And Nooses From Prohibited Hate Symbols

“We strongly oppose the Coast Guard’s decision to remove the hate-symbol designation from its 2025 policy.

  

A swastika is the emblem of Nazi Germany, which executed the worst genocide in history that murdered six million Jews. Nooses were used for centuries by white supremacists to hang innocent Black people in this country. These are quintessential symbols of hate, not merely “divisive symbols” nor abstract icons. 

 

By eliminating the terminology of “hate incident” symbols at a time of rising antisemitism and increasing hate, the Coast Guard risks emboldening those who seek to intimidate or target Jewish Americans, Black Americans, and other minority communities. 

 

This change sends a chilling signal to American Jews at a moment when antisemitic incidents have already hit record highs in the United States. This policy change must be reversed immediately.”