CAPE MAY, NJ – The U.S. Coast Guard has launched an investigation after a swastika — the symbol associated with Nazi Germany and white supremacy — was discovered last week in a men’s restroom at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May.
Key Points
- A swastika was found Thursday inside a restroom at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May.
- A senior Coast Guard official flew in from Washington to address more than 900 recruits and staff.
- Governor Mikie Sherrill condemned the act as antisemitic and called for accountability.
Coast Guard responds to hate symbol
According to reports confirmed by The Washington Post, the hateful symbol was discovered Thursday, prompting immediate response from Coast Guard leadership. A high-ranking official traveled from Washington, D.C. to Cape May to personally address the training center’s roughly 900 recruits and staff members, emphasizing that such conduct is inconsistent with the service’s core values.
Governor Mikie Sherrill weighed in on social media, calling the act antisemitic and unacceptable in any branch of public service. “Law enforcement and military members are given a great deal of public trust and must serve all of our citizens and be held to the highest standards,” she said. “The antisemitic act of drawing a swastika renders you unfit to serve.”
Investigation underway at training facility
The Coast Guard confirmed that the incident is under active investigation, though no additional details about suspects or potential disciplinary actions have been released. Officials said they are treating the matter with “the utmost seriousness” and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining an inclusive, respectful environment within the ranks.
The Cape May facility serves as the Coast Guard’s only enlisted basic training center in the nation, where recruits from across the country begin their service. The investigation is ongoing, and further updates are expected in the coming days.