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.”

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

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

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount