Coast Guard member flashes white power hand signal on TV

[JonLP24]

A member of a U.S. Coast Guard team responding to Tropical Storm Florence in South Carolina appeared to flash a white power hand gesture in the background as a captain was being interviewed Friday by MSNBC.

The man has since been removed from the Florence response operations and the incident is under investigation, said Coast Guard Lt. J.B. Zorn.

"Whatever that symbol means, it doesn't reflect the Coast Guard and our core values," Zorn said. "It won't be tolerated."

He flashed the signal as Capt. John Reed, commander of Florence response efforts in Charleston, South Carolina, was explaining a new tact as the storm changed direction. A man in a red shirt was seen casually displaying the hand signal against the right side of his face as he sat at a table in the background.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna909856?__twitter_impression=true

OK I could understand the defense of Bash but this is obvious here and even if something starts out as trolling can later be adopted as a sign especially when used by real white supremacists.

[madaboutharry]

1. He needs to be seriously disciplined.

Or even kicked out of The Coast Guard. This crap can not be tolerated. Good for The Coast Guard for taking this seriously and taking action.

This hand signal needs to be recognized for what it is: A new Nazi salute.

[Cha]

2. I don't see how anyone could defend

Zina Bash.

[JonLP24]

3. I didnt I think she knew what she was doing

But there were posts arguing that it isn't a WS sign with links to this article. https://www.adl.org/blog/how-the-ok-symbol-became-a-popular-trolling-gesture

I personally think this one has a better history of it.

https://lifehacker.com/is-this-an-innocent-ok-sign-or-a-white-power-symbol-1825575794

In the Coast Guard pic he has his 3 fingers up like a W.

[Sunsky]

11. I agree

She did it it twice, including after the uproar about the first gesture in which her husband defended her. Maybe she was being defiant or she found it humorous/trolling? However, what is joke to you is death to me. I don't care for those who defend these racist pos. I equally don't care much for excuses using her ethnicity or religion because it is the muck in her heart that counts and I believe it was on full display at the hearings.

[Cha]

44. Oh yeah.. one can be a racist POS no matter

their heritage.

Zina supports trump and kavanaugh for cripe sake.

[gordianot]

4. Trump punctuates his speeches with what looks to me like an "f" with spread out fingers.

This is almost constant while speaking and a little annoying to me. Is this a white power sign? As a retired teacher of the deaf for 40 years I tend to notice hand shapes and gestures.

The oral verbal content of any Trump speech is sickening may I add.

[True Blue American]

5. Sorrry, that one

Is just a little too far fetched for me to get upset. Holding an ear phone?

Come on.

[JonLP24]

6. Coast Guard

Link to tweet

I think it is a little too late to say these are innocent but anyway I wouldn't want him

[True Blue American]

8. As I posted

Do not buy it. Anyone could have their fore finger and thumb together,other fingers up. I think it is silly,do not care what they said.

I never heard of that and doubt many others have. Not everyone keeps up with the breathless rantings.

[JonLP24]

9. The information is out there

I learned more about this recently myself. The alt right has been using it especially with the W for at least a few years.

[Kingofalldems]

10. Did you see the video?

[MelissaB]

22. Watch the video.

[mucifer]

26. I agree with the look at the video responses. He glares at the camera looks

away and puts the signal up in a way that does not look natural at all.

From the photo it looks like he could be picking his ear. From the video you see more.

[dewsgirl]

27. It was about as subtle as a heart attack.

[Adrahil]

31. Lol!!! Watch the video.

Totally deliberate.

No gaslighting today, thanks!

[sl8]

7. "..explaining a new tact..."?

Think the writer was shooting for "tack" or "tactic"?

[d_r]

13. They are going

To try and deal with Florence with sensitivity, they don't want to hurt her feelings.

[sl8]

16. That's sexist.

[d_r]

21. coast guard, not me

[mountain grammy]

15. Nice pic.. thank you for your service

my favorite cousin served in the Coast Guard. So proud.

[hueymahl]

14. Maybe

I've sat just like that before. Could easily be inadvertent.

There is a real risk of crying wolf on things like this.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

17. You can't keep secrets in the Coast Guard,

all you ship mates know everything about you.

[Generic Brad]

19. Ever seen a minority accidentally flashing that symbol?

And if you have, were they affiliated with a political party other than the Republicans?

[dewsgirl]

28. Watch the video.

[hueymahl]

45. I stand corrected

Clearly an intentional act.

[SCVDem]

18. This gesture

is not a natural hand position. It has to be made!

Damn, I miss the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate!

[yortsed snacilbuper]

20. I usually give people the benefit of the doubt,

but this jerk is giving a signal to his skin head buddies.

[dalton99a]

25. +1. It's unmistakable

Last edited Sat Sep 15, 2018, 02:44 PM - Edit history (1)

Identify this guy:

[C_U_L8R]

23. They may as well be waving swasticas

Enough of this shit.

[demmiblue]

24. Twitter video:

Link to tweet

[oasis]

34. There's no question the deplorable scum in red is sending a message.

He's purchased a heap of trouble for his stupid ass.

[TomSlick]

29. Thus endeth another brilliant career.

The Coast Guard cannot tolerate that.

[Patterson]

30. There is no defense of Bash. It's 100% certain she was giving the WP sign.

[SoCalDem]

32. arrogantly stupid and at the same time

backwards

[Separation]

33. Lmao are you kidding me?!

First let me preface this by saying I know the guy. Second, he could be picking a zit on his face. Lastly, we all played the nutshot game, and he just got anyone who looked.

White power? Please.

[oasis]

35. Nothing says "I'm totally focused on a regional disaster" like flashing

a dumbassed sign.

[Separation]

36. You give to much credit to males in their 20's

And if they are so focused on the disaster like you said, wouldnt they be to focused on that to flash a white power sign? Your logic goes both ways.

[oasis]

37. Emergencies should be free of "help" from knuckleheads.

They are more of a hindrance than help.

[Separation]

38. I agree

But like I said, he could very well be picking at a zit. I dont know, I didnt see the video. Like I said though, I know the guy and its definitely not a white power sign.

[oasis]

39. Post # 24 provides video.

[Separation]

41. Thanks for that

I was mistaken, that's not who I thought it was. 😂

As far as the "white power sign", I think that it probably originated in the same forums, as the last big lie of the LGBT community accepting pedos into the community. There is just to much fake outrage out there to whip up the other side that I've now had issues telling what's real, and what's, "internet real".

Now, if I am totally wrong and it's really a white power thing, it should be dealt with swift and sharp.

[JonLP24]

42. I don't know this person motives

But plenty of the alt right use it and either they want to trick people into thinking they are racist or they are racist.
https://theoutline.com/post/1428/the-ok-sign-is-becoming-an-alt-right-symbol?zd=2&zi=txsdbxqe

Whatever the case it appears the Coast Guard acted swiftly.

[Ms. Toad]

40. I'm one of the ones who believes hunting for the alt-right in random photos

is a true witch hunt.

Whether the symbol actually means white power to him, or he is doingit to yank liberal chains in light of the recently well-publicized incidents with Bash, it was intentional.

He looked at the camera at least twice, timed it when a camera was off the shoulder of the speaker, than deliberately formed the hand gesture in the line of the camera.

Whatever his motives - in the context here - it is offensive.

[rockfordfile]

43. That guy should be fired.