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Hate on Display™ Hate Symbols Database

 

This database provides an overview of many of the symbols most frequently used by a variety of white supremacist groups and movements, as well as some other types of hate groups.

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Topic

  • General Hate Symbols
  • Hate Acronyms/Abbreviations
  • Hate Group Symbols/Logos
  • Hate Slogans/Slang Terms
  • Ku Klux Klan Symbols
  • Neo-Nazi Symbols
  • Numeric Hate Symbols
  • (-) Racist Hand Signs
  • White Supremacist Prison Gang Symbols
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Seen a Hate Symbol?

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18 Results

23 (hand sign)

Hate Symbol
23 (hand sign)
Read more about 23 (hand sign)

88 (hand sign)

Hate Symbol
88 (hand sign)
Read more about 88 (hand sign)

Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (hand sign)

Hate Symbol
Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (hand sign)
Read more about Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (hand sign)

Aryan Circle (hand sign)

Hate Symbol
Aryan Circle (hand sign)
The Aryan Circle is one of the largest white supremacist prison gangs in the United States. Its primary hand sign consists of holding up the thumb and the middle, ring, and little fingers of one hand, signifying the numbers 1 and 3 (which stand for AC). One can also hold up the little finger and the middle and index fingers, plus the thumb.
Read more about Aryan Circle (hand sign)

Aryan Nations (hand sign - Tennessee prison gang)

Hate Symbol
Aryan Nations (hand sign - Tennessee prison gang)
ALTERNATE NAMES: Bolts Up, Bolts to the Sky
Read more about Aryan Nations (hand sign - Tennessee prison gang)

European Kindred (hand sign)

Hate Symbol
European Kindred (hand sign)
The European Kindred is a large white supremacist prison gang based primarily in Oregon. Gang members often use a two-handed hand sign in which three fingers of one hand are spread to look like an E and two fingers of another hand are spread to resemble a K.
Read more about European Kindred (hand sign)

Hammerskin (hand sign)

Hate Symbol
Hammerskin Hand Sign
The handsign of the Hammerskins, a racist skinhead group, consists of two crossed forearms emulating the "crossed hammers" of the Hammerskins logo.
Read more about Hammerskin (hand sign)

Hitler Salute (hand sign)

Hate Symbol
Hitler Salute (hand sign)
ALTERNATE NAMES: Nazi Salute
Read more about Hitler Salute (hand sign)

Ku Klux Klan (hand sign)

Hate Symbol
Ku Klux Klan (hand sign)
Read more about Ku Klux Klan (hand sign)

Okay Hand Gesture

Hate Symbol
Okay Hand Gesture
A common hand gesture that a 4chan trolling campaign claimed in 2017 had been appropriated as a symbol meaning "white power." Used by many on the right--not just extremists--for the purpose of trolling liberals, the symbol eventually came to be used by actual white supremacists as well. Caution must be used in evaluating instances of this symbol's use.
Read more about Okay Hand Gesture

Peckerwood (hand sign)

Hate Symbol
Peckerwood (hand sign)
Read more about Peckerwood (hand sign)

Peckerwood Midwest

Hate Symbol
Peckerwood Midwest
Peckerwood Midwest is a white supremacist gang based primarily in Missouri, active both in prisons and on the streets. The gang's "patch" tattoo consists of a diamond-shaped swastika inside a larger Iron Cross. Inside the swastika are SS bolts; outside the Iron Cross are the numbers 23/16.
Read more about Peckerwood Midwest

Solid Wood Soldiers

Hate Symbol
Solid Wood Soldiers
The Solid Wood Soldiers are a Texas-based white supremacist prison gang. Their primary tattoo consists of the initials SWS, with the two S's represented by lightning bolts. Above the initials appears the image of a bear claw, with the number 4 in the middle and sometimes the letters HCRL.
ALTERNATE NAMES:
Read more about Solid Wood Soldiers

SS (hand sign)

Hate Symbol
SS (hand sign)
Read more about SS (hand sign)

Supreme White Alliance (hand sign)

Hate Symbol
Supreme White Alliance (hand sign)
The Supreme White Alliance is a hardcore racist skinhead gang based primarily in the Midwest. Members sometimes use a two-handed handsign in which four fingers from one hand and three fingers from the other hand are used to represent the number 43. The gang uses 43 as a numeric symbol because the alphanumeric equivalents of the gang's initials (19 for S, 23 for W, and 1 for A), when added together, equal 43.
Read more about Supreme White Alliance (hand sign)

Vinlanders Social Club (hand sign)

Hate Symbol
Vinlanders Social Club (hand sign)
The handsign used by the Vinlanders Social Club, a racist skinhead gang, consists of holding up the first, second, and fourth fingers of one hand.
Read more about Vinlanders Social Club (hand sign)

Volksfront (hand sign)

Hate Symbol
Volksfront (hand sign)
Members of the white supremacist group Volksfront have used several handsigns to represent their gang. A common one-handed sign features the fingers of the right hand divided into a "V" shape, often held over the chest. A two-handed sign uses one hand to make a "V" shape (using two or four fingers) and the other hand to make the shape of the letter "F."
Read more about Volksfront (hand sign)

White Power (hand sign)

Hate Symbol
White Power (hand sign)
Some white supremacists, particularly in California, may use a two-handed handsign in which one hand forms the letter "W" and the other hand forms the letter "P," to represent WP or "White Power."
Read more about White Power (hand sign)

Are we missing something?

Submit a Hate Symbol to ADL at hate-symbols@adl.org

All the symbols depicted here must be evaluated in the context in which they appear. Few symbols represent just one idea or are used exclusively by one group. For example, the Confederate Flag is a symbol that is frequently used by white supremacists but which also has been used by people and groups that are not racist. Similarly, other symbols in this database may be significant to people who are not extreme or racist. The descriptions here point out significant multiple meanings but may not be able to relay every possible meaning of a particular symbol.

Hate on Display is a trademark of the Anti-Defamation League. 

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