Member of Coast Guard's hurricane response team fired after flashing 'white power' symbol during live MSNBC broadcast
The Coast Guard said a member of the hurricane response team has been removed after he appeared to make the 'white power' hand signal during a live broadcast on Friday night. The gesture was made on MSNBC's 'Live with Ali Velshi' while Captain John Reed was giving an update on Tropical Storm Florence and the response efforts in Charleston, South Carolina.
As Reed talked to the camera, a Coast Guard member sitting at a table behind the captain gave the 'OK' sign, a once-innocuous hand signal that is now widely associated with the alt-right.
US Coast Guard on hand gesture seen used by a support staff member (bottom left) during an interview on @MSNBC this afternoon:
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 15, 2018
"The Coast Guard has identified the member and removed him from the response. His actions do not reflect those of the United States Coast Guard." pic.twitter.com/jjwZmCFFBI
