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Anna Iovine, AOL.com

Apr 27th 2017 9:16AM

Ahead of the 2016 presidential election, the Pepe the Frog meme became co-opted as a symbol of the alt-right. The Anti-Defamation League declared it a hate symbol.

Now, another symbol with neutral origins may be going down the same route: the "okay" hand symbol.

The Outline put together a report of evidence that the sign is quickly becoming co-opted by white nationalists as Pepe was.

Prominent members of the alt-right movement have been seen making the gesture, such as Milo Yiannopoulos:

Richard Spencer shared a photo of him making the gesture the night of the election:

According to Forbes, "the air pinch with thumb and forefinger" also happens to be President Trump's most recognized gesture.

Ryan Lenz, a senior investigative reporter at the Southern Poverty Law Center, told The Outline that the meaning behind the symbol depends on the context. He said, "I don't think anybody's going to accuse any user of Facebook for posting a picture of their wife or husband after giving birth to a child and giving the OK symbol as propagating racist messaging."

This can change, however. If an overtly racist politician starts using the symbol, and it becomes a "rallying cry" for supporters, Lenz told The Outline, "then I think the symbol is lost."

"Okay" received national prominence during the 1840 presidential election. "O.K." stood for "Old Kinderhook," a nickname for candidate Martin Van Buren, who was from Kinderhook, New York.

Like Pepe the Frog -- and the swastika before it -- the symbol may be appropriated to be hateful despite different origins.

See Richard Spencer through the years

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Alt-Right leader Richard Spencer through the years

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White nationalist leader Richard Spencer of the National Policy Institute speaks on campus at an event not sanctioned by the school, at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, U.S. December 6, 2016. REUTERS/Spencer Selvidge

Richard Spencer of the National Policy Institute arrives on campus to speak at an event not sanctioned by the school, at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, U.S. December 6, 2016. REUTERS/Spencer Selvidge

Undocumented Texas A&M students and their supporters protest silently as white nationalist leader Richard Spencer of the National Policy Institute speaks on campus at an event not sanctioned by the school, at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, U.S. December 6, 2016. REUTERS/Spencer Selvidge

Organizer Preston Wigginton shakes hands with white nationalist leader Richard Spencer after introducing him at an event on campus not sanctioned by the school, at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, U.S. December 6, 2016. REUTERS/Spencer Selvidge

Jacob Jackson, a freshman international studies major, listens after asking a question to white nationalist leader Richard Spencer of the National Policy Institute at an event not sanctioned by the school, at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, U.S. December 6, 2016. REUTERS/Spencer Selvidge

White nationalist leader Richard Spencer of the National Policy Institute speaks on campus as a silent protester holds a placard at an event not sanctioned by the school, at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, U.S. December 6, 2016. REUTERS/Spencer Selvidge TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

White nationalist leader Richard Spencer of the National Policy Institute speaks on campus during an event not sanctioned by the school, at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, U.S. December 6, 2016. REUTERS/Spencer Selvidge

White nationalist leader Richard Spencer of the National Policy Institute waves goodbye after his speech during an event not sanctioned by the school, on campus at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, U.S. December 6, 2016. REUTERS/Spencer Selvidge

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 19: Richard Spencer is in town for the largest white nationalist and Alt Right conference of the year in Washington, DC on November 18, 2016. Spencer, a 38-year-old Dallas native and graduate of St. Mark's School of Texas prep school, is a key intellectual leader of the alternative right, a label he coined in 2008 to describe the radical conservative movement defined by white nationalism and a fervent resistance to multiculturalism and globalism. Spencer currently resides in the resort town of Whitefish, Montana, in what was described as a 'Bavarian-style mansion' in a profile in Mother Jones. He was born in Massachusetts but moved to the Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas when he was about 2 years old. 'It was a fairly idyllic, suburban childhood,' Spencer said with a laugh. 'I remember riding bikes around the neighborhood, and so on. I guess you could say I lived in a bubble to a certain extent, like a lot of the kids in that area. But it was very nice.' (Photo by Linda Davidson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 19: Richard Spencer is in town for the largest white nationalist and Alt Right conference of the year in Washington, DC on November 18, 2016. Spencer, a 38-year-old Dallas native and graduate of St. Mark's School of Texas prep school, is a key intellectual leader of the alternative right, a label he coined in 2008 to describe the radical conservative movement defined by white nationalism and a fervent resistance to multiculturalism and globalism. Spencer currently resides in the resort town of Whitefish, Montana, in what was described as a 'Bavarian-style mansion' in a profile in Mother Jones. He was born in Massachusetts but moved to the Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas when he was about 2 years old. 'It was a fairly idyllic, suburban childhood,' Spencer said with a laugh. 'I remember riding bikes around the neighborhood, and so on. I guess you could say I lived in a bubble to a certain extent, like a lot of the kids in that area. But it was very nice.' (Photo by Linda Davidson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 20: (L-R) Discussion panelists Peter Brimelow, Jared Taylor, Kevin MacDonald, 'Millenial Woes' (thats the name he goes by) and Richard Spencer field questions at an Alt Right ( alternative right) conference hosted by the National Policy Institute in Washington, DC on November 18, 2016. The think tank promotes white nationalism and critics accuse them of being racist and anti-semitic. The chairman of the National Policy Institute, Richard Spencer, has been permanently banned from entering the UK, and was deemed a 'national security threat' after his arrest in Hungary in 2014. He was recently banned from Twitter in a prominent purge by the company this week. (Photo by Linda Davidson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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Is the OK sign becoming an alt-right symbol? - AOL

Less than a month ago, the headline read Fairfax County unites against hate. At least one FCPS School Board member doesnt seem to have gotten the memo, as exemplified by sharing news of the French election with a prominent white-nationalist, (neo-)Nazi symbol.

For those somehow unaware after lots of news coverage about this, thats Pepe the Frogassociated in the image with National Fronts Marine La Pen. Pepe has morphed over the past decade from an amusing (to many, tasteless) cartoon figure into an Alt-Right / Nazi symbol a symbol thatgot heavy play and much media attention during the US 2016 presidential election.

Pepe the Frog first appeared in 2005 in the comic Boys Club The comics depictPepe and his anthropomorphized animal friends behaving like stereotypical post-college bros: playing video games, eating pizza, smoking potand being harmlessly gross.

That Animal House-like innocence has been tarred by a white-nationalist, (neo)Nazi embrace

In some instances, Pepe wears a Hitler mustache, and his signature message is replaced with Kill Jews Man. In others, Pepe poses in front of a burning World Trade Center, dressed like an Orthodox Jewish person with a yarmulke and payot. Hes also been spotted wearing a Nazi soldiers uniform and in a KKK hood and robe.

For an interesting perspective on the sharing of white supremacist memes and imagery, Vice

put together a field guide of somephrases and memes white supremacists share with one anotherso that, if you happen across one in the wild, youll be able tell whether your old college friend, Gary, is simply a fan of 11th-century history or secretly wishes to eradicate all non-whites.

As thatanalysis of white-nationalist ((neo)Nazi) discussions laid out re use and dissemination of Pepe imagery,

Despite the disingenuous incredulity offered by the alt-right after the ADL added Pepe to its official list of hate symbols, there is no reason to believe that anyone using the character today is at all unaware of the Nazi sentiments attached to it and [they] should therefore be regarded as complicit in spreading said sentiments with his or her usage of the cartoon. Plausible deniability divorced itself from Pepe usage a long time ago. The swastika was once an innocent religious symbol, too. People have a tendency to ruinnice things.

While it should trouble all that a Fairfax County School Board member shares out material that is on the Anti-Defamation Leagues official list of hate symbols even innocently, what shouldproactive (or oblivious to implications?) defense of that action when confronted with Pepes neo-Nazi symbolism (here, here, here, ) indicate?

Is it unreasonable to suggest that

Perhaps a FCPS School Board Member should not be promoting anti-semitic, white nationalist symbols?

The Fairfax County Public Schools Student Rights & Responsibilities handbook explicitly states:

In FCPS, students have the responsibility to refrain from using words, images, or gestures that are obscene, violent, disruptive, or disrespectful.

Is it unreasonable to expect that FCPS School Board members should hold themselves to the standards expected of students?

Read the original:
Home Education Pepe the Frog: Hate Speech Disseminated by Fairfax County Public School Board... - Blue Virginia (press release) (blog)

On Wednesday, Furie said via email that Zara had not sought his permission to use Pepe the Frogs likeness.

Zara offended consumers with its accidental Pepe the Frog denim skirt.

In a statement emailed to Mashable, a spokesperson for Zara contested any link to the meme and said the skirt was part of a limited collection created through a collaboration with artist Mario de Santiago, known online as Yimeisgreat. After being appropriated by groups linked to white supremacy, the Pepe the Frog meme was labeled a hate symbol by the Anti-Defamation League a year ago.

We simply dont see how this skirt made it past all the stages from initial design to being sold online without at least one person thinking: wait, isnt that the frog white supremacists keep posting on Twitter.

While the character itself was originally created by illustrator Matt Furie as a benign cartoon, it was widely adopted by alt-right and anti-Semitic groups for communicating on social-media forums, reaching its peak during the American presidential election a year ago as it continued to pop up in racial contexts.

Zara has not commented on the skirt snafu, but the skirt is no longer available online.

Created in 2005 by Matt Furie, Pepe the frog was later claimed by hate-based groups. They dont look much like the alt-right icon in the first place, aside from general frogginess, and the artist has explicitly stated that there is absolutely no link to the suggested theme.

And although Zara has come under fire for offensive and controversial clothing such as the shirt alluding to the Holocaust we may have to give the retailer the benefit of the doubt on this one.

In September 2007, Zara removed a handbag with embroidered swastikas that was manufactured in India and inspired by commonly used Hindu symbols, which include the swastika.

Original post:
Zara's Pepe the Frog Skirt Pulled After Internet Backlash PPP Focus - pppFocus

This week is all about dealing with anxiety, creating your own online community and what it's like to transition in the public eye.

Whats better than one guest? TWO GUESTS. Well, three if you count each person separately. Yeah, thats right its a double whammy on this weeks episode of the PopBuzz Podcast and boy, its a gooden.

If youre struggling with your mental health, you might wanna tune into this one. First up, we were joined by Ashley Dun and Jesse Cale, the co-creators of an incredible project called Secret Midnight Press. Theyve set up an online community that encourages people to use and channel their creativity to address their worries, anxiety and depression. You can read more about Secret Midnight Press right here. Or, ya know, you can hit that play button and let them explain it to ya.

Then, we were joined in the studio with model, actress, former Drag Race Queen and trans-activist Carmen Carrera who spilled the tea on what it's like to transition in the public eye, the opportunities that opened up for her once she came out as trans andhow to find your space and voice in the LGBTQ+ community.

1)Search for PopBuzz on iTunes, and subscribe to the podcast for brand new episodes every Friday.

2)You can also listen to us on Soundcloud.All youve gotta do is search 'PopBuzz' and well appear before your very eyes.

3) Or, you can type - you guessed it -'PopBuzz' into YouTubeand listen that way.

4) Don't forget to leave us a review. If you're nice, we'll give you sweets.

We have an actual live meltdown at the long-awaited return of Paramore and their brand new single Hard Times. Does it have what it takes to become the very first official BANGER of 2017? Spoiler: Yes, yes it does.

via giphy.com

Did you hear about high-street fashion chain Zara who got in a spot of bother this week for adding what looks like Pepe the Frog onto one of their denim skirts? They must have missed the memo about Pepe now being an official hate symbol. Yeah that was a nightmare.

NBC / via giphy.com

Radio X did a poll recently that sought to find Britains greatest song and we run down the top five and give our own suggestions for the bands and tracks that were sadly (and unjustly) overlooked. The following gif may or may not hint at what we declared the best British song of all time

via giphy.com

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The PopBuzz Podcast Ep 29: Ashley Dun & Jesse Cale, Carmen Carrera, Paramore And Pepe - PopBuzz

A fast-fashion retailer is in hot water over a hate symbol.

Zara, a Spanish clothing chain, pulled a skirt from its website after people pointed out that an applique cartoon character on it bore a striking resemblance to "Pepe the Frog," a fictional frog that has been adopted by "alt-right" groups.

Meagan Fredette, a freelance writer from Chicago, was the first person to point it out. She said she was browsing Zara's site Monday evening when she noticed the skirt. She tweeted about it and then went to sleep, assuming nothing would come of it.

By Wednesday, the skirt was no longer available on Zara's website. The retailer confirmed to several news outlets that the item had been pulled from real and virtual shelves. (Zara did not respond to emailed requests for comment from The Times.)

Pepe rose to prominence last year, his visage appearing in memes about Adolf Hitler and the Ku Klux Klan. People who identified as members of white nationalist and other far-right groups added the green frog emoji to their Twitter handle or display name.

Last summer, Donald Trump Jr. posted a photo on Instagram labeled "The Deplorables" referencing the movie The Expendables and a comment that Hillary Clinton made about supporters of his father, Donald Trump which showed Pepe alongside Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Rudy Giuliani and other people involved with Trumps presidential campaign.

In September, the Anti-Defamation League said it was formally declaring Pepe the Frog a hate symbol.

Matt Furie, an artist based in L.A.'s Koreatown neighborhood, created Pepe the Frog back in 2005. He said in an interview last October that having his creation associated with anti-Semitism and white nationalism was his "worst nightmare."

On Wednesday, Furie said via email that Zara had not sought his permission to use Pepe the Frogs likeness.

The skirt in question was designed by a Spanish artist, Mario de Santiago, as part of Zara's "Oil-On-Denim" collection, which launched this month in stores and online. In a statement, the company said de Santiago created the design based on a painting he made with friends several years ago and that it had no link to the suggested theme.

De Santiago replied to Fredette's tweets, saying his design was "never intended to promulgate hate" and that he was sorry. "I feel shame for this," he wrote. (He later deleted those tweets, but Fredette provided the Times with screenshots of them.)

This is not the first time that Zara has had to pull a questionable product. In 2014, the brand publicly apologized for selling a shirt that looked like something concentration camp prisoners wore. In 2007, it stopped selling a purse that had swastika symbols embroidered on it.

Fredette, who has written about fashion for outlets like Paper Magazine and Refinery29, said she wasnt surprised that this happened to Zara again. In order for fast-fashion retailers like Zara to keep prices low, she said, they have to cut corners on quality control. She said the blame lies with Zara, not the designer, for not recognizing the implications of the frog.

"Someone should have seen this before it was produced and put up for sale," she said.

Follow me on Twitter @jessica_roy.

jessica.roy@latimes.com

Read the rest here:
Zara pulls denim skirt after 'Pepe the Frog' accusations - Los Angeles Times