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Swastika is religious symbol in India and many countries don't find it offensive but due to Nazi connections, will a traveler will get in trouble if he carries anything with the swastika symbol in the USA? Like a T-shirt, Tattoo or religious book with that logo? Do I need to hide it, or avoid even carrying it?

Chris Melville
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Ankit Sharma
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6 Answers6

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It is not illegal to display a swastika in the US; however, the symbol is generally understood in the US to be a symbol of Nazism and displaying it publicly is likely to be extremely hurtful to those around you (perhaps in particular members of groups targeted by Nazis), not to mention earn you significant unwanted attention. If it is on a religious book and it is clear that it is a religious symbol unrelated to the Nazi party, then that is more likely to be OK. I would definitely avoid wearing it on a t-shirt or displaying a swastika tattoo.

Source: I am a US resident.

ajd
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    This is largely true regardless of the orientation of the symbol. Despite the Nazi version generally being angled and the various religious versions generally being straight, I would not rely the knowledge of most Americans to know/understand the difference. – Doc Dec 12 '18 at 07:53
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    It could also be noted that color scheme could play an important role -- the Black-Swastika-in-a-white-circle-on-a-red-field screams Nazi at the top of it's lungs. I don't know personally how swastikas in India are displayed, but a quick google image search shows that most of them are gold on a red field, which might be an early indicated that this is in fact not a Nazi emblem. – Sidney Dec 12 '18 at 16:40
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    And just remember, while you are absolutely allowed to wear anything you want, as Freedom of Speech is protected by the US Constitution, you are not protected at all from consequences of private citizens reacting to your wearing a swastika. Relevant XKCD – BruceWayne Dec 12 '18 at 19:42
  • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat. – Willeke Dec 12 '18 at 19:54
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    People, please go to the chat to post further comments on this answer. All that are posted here might be deleted and we can not move them to the chatroom for you. – Willeke Dec 12 '18 at 21:46
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I mostly agree with @ajd's answer, and it'll depend a bit on where in the country you are. While I hate stereotyping, in the US it's not a bad starting point.

T-shirts and apparel with a swastika is almost certain to get you negative attention, especially in more liberal parts of the country, though one might think that more liberal areas would be more likely to understand the difference. In heavily conservative areas, you're more likely to be harassed for being Indian than for a swastika (yes, I've seen it happen). I know it sounds like I'm bashing my country, but this is mostly a worst-case scenario type of thing - better to be prepared and understand than not. :)

The current socio-political environment in the US and the increase in white supremacist activity definitely puts a damper on this particular religious freedom. It's not illegal, and you won't be imprisoned or fined, but I'd be concerned about your safety and well-being.

If you happen to be coming to Michigan, let me know. We have a pretty heavy Indian population here. I can ask a few friends for advice, if they have any, on this particular issue. :)

V2Blast
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Jesse Williams
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The public display of Nazi flags is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution which, affirmed by the Supreme Court case Texas v. Johnson, guarantees the right to freedom of speech. (sources)

It's also used by some political or social groups for rallies. Saying that, to most people it'll be associated with Naziism, despite the original orientation/meanings that were co-opted.

Most people are likely to just give it a look and form an impression of you that you might not appreciate, but aren't likely to engage. Some however, might take more of an issue with it.

Mark Mayo
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Depends a ton on the context. People from India run the gamut in skin color. If you have light colored skin, people might associate you with white supremacists who openly carry Nazi symbols. A known white nationalist doing an interview was openly assaulted on the street (it's an isolated incident but some people felt it was justified). If you are darker skinned, that association is much less likely to be made.

Books are unlikely to get you noticed in this fashion, especially since you don't have to display them. Clothing certainly will and tattoos are even more closely associated with it.

Machavity
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    The problem is not just the very small chances of white supremacists getting attacked in public places (although getting insulted, definitely :-)). In private, this could also attract the attention of white supremacists, who will be very disappointed if they find out you're Indian, and are more likely to get at least as aggressive. Those are not people you want to associate with if you can help it –  Dec 12 '18 at 21:01
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The term "swastika" includes a wide variety of symbols. Something like this or this is much less likely to be perceived as being a Nazi swastika than is something like this. It also helps if it's incorporated into a very-not-German design, such as this.

Also, while Germany is, to my understanding, sensitive to any use of a swastika in any context, there are many contexts in the US where it is acceptable. For instance, the book The Man in The High Castle is set in a universe where Japan and Germany occupy the US, and its cover depicts the Japanese and Nazi Germany flags. So a book with a swastika, even if it's perceived to be a Nazi swastika, would not necessarily be perceived as being pro-Nazi.

So, to summarize: how it's received will the depend on the type of swastika, the context, the viewer, and whether you have other attributes associated with Nazism (e.g., blond, blue eyes, skinhead haircut, etc.).

Acccumulation
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  • https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/propeller-spinner-nose-cone-spirit-st-louis-ca-lindbergh-ny-paris – Nick T Dec 13 '18 at 18:05
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There are no laws specifically against Nazi symbols or Nazi paraphenalia (clothing, medals, etc.) in the United States, and there are NO laws against religious symbols, even if they are swastikas. Airport authorities will not give you any trouble, and if a police officer or customs officer asks, simply inform them it is a religious symbol.

That said, many places, like university campuses or workplaces, have regulations or policies against 'offending people', so people who don't understand that the swastika is an ancient religious symbol used in many cultures might complain and make trouble for you. In that case, prove your swastikas are religious with a quick internet search on your phone, demand that they respect your right to religious freedom, and then accuse them of racism if they don't stop bothering you. They have NO RIGHT to bother you because of your religion.

If you look like a person from India, and your swastika looks Eastern and not Nazi, I doubt people will bother you unless you are somewhere extremists congregate, like university campuses. If people try to pressure you into not wearing your religious symbols, it could be a violation of your civil rights.

TheLeopard
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    To most people in the west, there is no such thing as a swastika that looks "not Nazi". – David Richerby Dec 13 '18 at 10:06
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    This is true even though the symbol was used before the Nazis on EVERY continent. – WGroleau Dec 14 '18 at 08:27
  • @DavidRicherby but there is! For example this polish swastika or hands swastika (without little ones in it). – Mołot Dec 14 '18 at 11:16
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    @Mołot To most people in the west, those things aren't swastikas. – David Richerby Dec 14 '18 at 11:38
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    @DavidRicherby: In particular in those parts of "the west" where the local language does not call a swastika "swastika", but something that more explicitly indicates it's two crossed lines with perpendicular extrusions at the ends. – O. R. Mapper Dec 14 '18 at 11:43
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    @DavidRicherby Unless Western society is even more degenerate than I perceive (and I'm a rabid misanthrope), only a small minority of the stupidest individuals are unaware of the swastika's Indian origin and would take offense to an Indian displaying it. – Kevin Krumwiede Dec 15 '18 at 21:38
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    @KevinKrumwiede define "take offense". In Germany, it will get you arrested, Indian or not, because it's illegal to show. Even Anti-Nazi groups land in court for showing crossed out swastikas or swastikas thrown into dumpsters and our local Christmas market had a booth selling (I guess Indian) swastikas and they were banned just this year. And as "a westerner", I support that. Showing a swastika is not free speech, the same way that being a member of the mafia and extorting money from a restaurant is not protected by free speech. – nvoigt Dec 17 '18 at 09:50
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    @KevinKrumwiede: Here in Germany, awareness of the swastika's non-nazi origin may be high, or maybe not across all layers of the population - I don't know. However, awareness that the symbol is in religious use nowadays is probably close to zero. My impression is that the common perception over here goes something like "The swastika originally used to be a religious symbol, but it was abused by the nazi regime and associated with a new, abhorrent meaning. Thus, the nazis ruined it and made the symbol entirely unusuable for anything else." – O. R. Mapper Dec 17 '18 at 10:36
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    @KevinKrumwiede I would guess at least half of the UK population have no idea that the swastika was originally an Indian religious symbol. (And a higher proportion would not know it is currently in use in India.) – Martin Bonner supports Monica Dec 17 '18 at 11:07
  • @KevinKrumwiede Let's not use insulting words like "degenerate". Regardless of your characterization, I really do not believe that most people in the west are aware of the origins of the swastika. – David Richerby Dec 18 '18 at 01:02
  • In the United States, showing a swastika in the context of the question is the exercise of both freedom of speech and freedom of religion, protected as inalienable rights under the Constitution of the United States. Other countries do not have these inalienable rights enshrined in law, which is why is it illegal to display a swastika in Germany and why people in the UK can get arrested for facebook posts. Inalienable means 'inseperable'. https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-constitution/ – TheLeopard Dec 19 '18 at 05:26
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    @nvoigt Talk about irony. – Kevin Krumwiede Dec 22 '18 at 04:14
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    @DavidRicherby It's perfectly descriptive. – Kevin Krumwiede Dec 22 '18 at 04:15