According to the Anti-Defamation League, the “OK” hand gesture is officially a hate symbol. The new update was mentioned in a new report that was released by the ADL.
Along with other symbols, the Anti-Defamation League added the “OK” hand gesture to their long-standing database of symbols and slogans that are used by extremists.
The “OK” hand sign is known for a good meaning all over the world, but according to the ADL, not everyone knows the real meaning of the hand gesture.
The hand gesture and its link to white nationalism started as a hoax that was made by a number of users on 4chan, a forum website.
The users linked it to white supremacy.
It started as a hoax and was made to bait the people and the media so they could overreact.
But instead of baiting it, the sign got adopted by white nationalists and started to use it to show their extremist sides.
In the report, ADL said, “At least some white supremacists seem to have abandoned the ironic or satiric intent behind the original trolling campaign and used the symbol as a sincere expression of white supremacy.”
Brenton Tarrant, the man who killed 41 people at 2 New Zealand mosques earlier this year was also seen using the OK symbol when he appeared at a court after he was arrested by the police.
The CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt, said, “We believe law enforcement and the public needs to be fully informed about the meaning of these images, which can serve as a first warning sign to the presence of haters in a community or school.”
The printed version of the official hate symbols brochure is going to be distributed to local law enforcement.
The brochures are also going to be made available in school districts across the country.