Man in Nazi armband in Seattle ferry terminal causing stir online

A photo of a man wearing a Nazi armband at the Colman Dock Ferry Terminal in Seattle is spreading like wildfire locally on social media.

The photo, posted by local photographer Jay Trinidad, shows the man waiting on the docked ferry, sitting next to a seemingly oblivious older couple. It appears a “SS” logo is emblazoned on his shirt, as well.

Trinidad says this is from a June 18 commute. Coleman Dock Ferry serves Bremerton and Bainbridge Island.

Given the backdrop of the Charleston shooting where Dylann Roof, inspired by hate, allegedly murdered 9 churchgoers, an image like this is particularly shocking, certainly in Western Washington.

But if you’re wondering if it’s legal to wear a Nazi armband like this, it absolutely is according to Seattle Police Department Detective Patrick Michaud. But if someone is acting suspiciously (beyond simply wearing hateful clothing), it’s always best to contact the police.

“If you have any concerns about their behavior, just give us a call…” Detective Michaud explains.

WSDOT expressed the same sentiment.

This is how it should be. Why would we even think about punishing this kind of speech?

That this is supposed to be some high-minded push by the government to tell society racism is bad? That being a Nazi-supporter is bad? Is this in question? Are there people out there who are decent human beings saying, “Man, I wonder if racism is bad … I wonder if the government and society is OK with racism?”

You can be a racist in this country, or a sexist, or a homophobe, or a Nazi-sympathizer. You can hate black people, women, gay people, Jews; it’s not illegal. It shouldn’t be illegal.

Not because those positions are admirable or just – those are disgusting positions and I want to shun bigots using my right to free speech to call those degenerates out.
But it shouldn’t be illegal because it would be based on a law that can be easily abused.

Imagine the power to censor and punish in the hands of your worst enemy. I’ve heard extremists arguing that being pro-life is a hateful position against women. I’ve heard extremists say being pro-gay marriage is a hateful position against Christians. Neither is true.

I don’t want to live in a world where the government tells us what we should think even when I agree that certain beliefs are disgusting; even if, as a Jew, I’m disgusted by the guy in this picture above.