Was ‘Swastika’ Blanket That Caused Uproar A Native American Symbol?
By Sam Kestenbaum September 6, 2017
Last month, a group of activists rallied at a Flea Market in Utah to protest what they said was a swastika-decorated blanket on sale.
But flea market organizers said this this was no swastika — but instead a sacred Native American symbol.
“I know antiques and I knew exactly what it was when I saw it,” Michael Sanders, who organized the flea market, told the Salt Lake Tribune, “a Native blanket with a rolling-log motif.”
The “rolling-log motif” is a Native American symbol that resembles, but pre-dates, the Nazi use of the swastika.
At the August 13 market, the activists demanded the blanket be removed. “They started screaming ‘Nazi’ and ‘white supremacist’ and cursing at the vendor; they made a big scene,” said Sanders, who was later harassed on social-media over the blanket. “Then the vendor decided to pull it.”
Activists continued to rail against market organizers online, calling another a “racist” who “looks like a neocon.” One of the posts was hashtagged with #punchanazitoday.
The swastika has a long history outside of its use by the Nazis. Over the years, American Indians have denounced the Nazis use of the symbol.
Email Sam Kestenbaum at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @skestenbaum
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
