1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to reverse the U.S. Coast Guard's new workplace harassment policy that downgrades swastikas from hate symbols to merely "potentially divisive" symbols. This policy change, which took effect on Monday according to a memo sent from the Coast Guard to Congress, represents a dangerous step backward in protecting service members from bigotry and hate. The previous Coast Guard policy explicitly listed swastikas, nooses, supremacist symbols, Confederate symbols or flags, and anti-Semitic symbols as hate symbols whose display would constitute a potential hate incident. This clear classification provided important protections for personnel. The new policy weakens these protections at a time when antisemitism is rising both in the United States and globally. As Senator Jacky Rosen stated, this change "rolls back important protections against bigotry and could allow for horrifically hateful symbols like swastikas and nooses to be inexplicably permitted to be displayed." Deborah Lipstadt, who served as President Biden's special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, called the change "terrifying," noting that the swastika represented the ideology that hundreds of thousands of Americans fought and gave their lives to defeat. The timing of this policy change is particularly disturbing. It comes just days after at least 15 people were shot and killed at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia. Relaxing policies aimed at fighting hate crimes sends the wrong message and puts Coast Guard personnel's safety at risk. While Admiral Kevin Lunday issued a memo on November 20 stating that swastikas and nooses will remain prohibited, the disparity between his orders and the written policy creates confusion and undermines enforcement. Clear, unambiguous policy language is essential. I urge you to demand that the Coast Guard immediately restore its previous policy explicitly classifying swastikas and similar symbols as hate symbols. Our service members deserve workplace protections that reflect our nation's values and the sacrifices made to defeat Nazi ideology.