Coast Guard member accused of flashing ‘white power’ sign removed from hurricane duty
A U.S. Coast Guard member has been removed from storm duty after he was accused of flashing a “white power” hand sign at the camera during an MSNBC segment on Hurricane Florence.
The unidentified man made the gesture in the background on Friday while Sector Charleston Commanding Officer Capt. John Reed was being interviewed about the Coast Guard activities in the hurricane-affected areas.
The Daily Beast notes, he displayed “an ‘OK’ hand signal affiliated with white nationalists as Reed was speaking.”
The clip quickly started to circulate on social media and the Coast Guard responded with a tweet.
“We are aware of the offensive video on twitter – the Coast Guard has identified the member and removed him from the response. His actions do not reflect those of the United States Coast Guard,” the tweetstated.
Reactions to the Coast Guard’s post were decidedly mixed.
Some commented that the action didn’t go far enough with tweets like, “We want him removed from the Coast Guard.”
Others cast doubt on the significance of the gesture.
“But it isn’t a white power symbol at all,” someone tweeted.
“So I am giving the white power sign every time I teach scuba diving?” wrote another tweeter.
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