White Supremacy? 17-Year-Old Reportedly Fired from Job After Making ‘OK’ Hand Gesture in Picture<\/h1>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Landry-head-shot-150x150.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n By Mike Landry<\/a> November 17, 2021 at 4:35pm <\/a> <\/a><\/a> <\/a><\/a> <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nBe careful, comrade, you when let everyone know all is OK. Or when you stretch your hand. Or flash your winnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because you are signaling (if you\u2019re reading this aloud to someone, do so in a whisper) \u2014 you are signaling white supremacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, you. White. Supremacy. Advertisement – story continues below<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How, you ask? It happens when you touch your forefinger to your thumb to make what is commonly known as the \u201cOK\u201d sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s what a 17-year-old Hamilton, Ontario, girl reportedly did in a picture she posted on social media when she was excited to get a high school co-op position at Juravinski Hospital. ‘<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe hospital found out and allegedly fired her from her co-op placement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t meant to be racist and it wouldn\u2019t happen again,\u201d Megan Breeze told the Hamilton Spectator<\/a>. \u201cI just thought it means \u2018OK.\u2019 Like a thumbs up sign.\u201d Advertisement – story continues below<\/p>\n\n\n\nHamilton Health Services said a community member noticed the photo and made a tip accusing Breeze of racism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe informed the school board when we were made aware of the posts in early October,\u201d HHS spokesperson Wendy Stewart. \u201cAs the pictures in the posts were taken at HHS sites, we acted decisively to emphasize that we expect all persons who come to our sites, regardless of whether they are an employee, patient, visitor or vendor to behave in a manner that ensures everyone at HHS feels respected, safe and welcome.\u201d Is making the “OK” sign racist? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy<\/a> and Terms of Use<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHamilton-Wentworth District School Board spokesperson Shawn McKillop said the details were \u201cconfidential.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA community member noticed an unacceptable symbol in a social media post and reported it to HWDSB and program partner, Hamilton Health Sciences,\u201d McKillop said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe symbol, which can be interpreted as promoting hate, does not align with HWDSB\u2019s commitment to equity and inclusion. Symbols of hate that promote racism or white supremacy ideology are not tolerated in HWDSB or anywhere in our community. The image was immediately taken down.\u201d Advertisement – story continues below<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ah, Megan, you\u2019ve been caught in a hoax. A costly hoax, to be sure, and, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, one that, like your experience, is not funny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe social-media-driven controversy over the meaning of the well-known hand sign has arisen in part as the result of a deliberate hoax concocted on the internet message board 4chan, which in addition to its well-earned reputation as a gateway to the racist \u2018alt-right\u2019 is perhaps more broadly known as the home of trolling culture,\u201d the SPLC<\/a> website said. Related: Politifact Won’t Remove False Fact Check Saying Rittenhouse Illegally Possessed Gun After Charge Tossed<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201c[W]hat it\u2019s about most of the time is a deliberate attempt to \u2018trigger liberals\u2019 into overreacting to a gesture so widely used that virtually anyone has plausible deniability built into their use of it in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet, the SPLC<\/a> explained, real white supremacists also use it to signal to each other. Advertisement – story continues below<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to tell the difference? It\u2019s the smirk, SPLC says. \u201cThe smirk gives away the proper answer: You\u2019re being trolled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that doesn\u2019t help Breeze, who said she simply used it as an OK sign and lost her co-op post as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a worse fate for Emmanuel Cafferty in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He lost his job at San Diego Gas & Electric because, near a Black Lives Matter<\/a> rally, his fingers supposedly telegraphed white supremacy as they were dangling from a truck window and were photographed, according to KNSD-TV. Advertisement – story continues below<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n By Mike Landry<\/a> November 17, 2021 at 4:35pm <\/a> <\/a><\/a> <\/a><\/a> <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Be careful, comrade, you when let everyone know all is OK. Or when you stretch your hand. Or flash your winnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because you are signaling (if you\u2019re reading this aloud to someone, do so in a whisper) \u2014 you are signaling white supremacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, you. White. Supremacy. Advertisement – story continues below<\/p>\n\n\n\n How, you ask? It happens when you touch your forefinger to your thumb to make what is commonly known as the \u201cOK\u201d sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s what a 17-year-old Hamilton, Ontario, girl reportedly did in a picture she posted on social media when she was excited to get a high school co-op position at Juravinski Hospital. ‘<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The hospital found out and allegedly fired her from her co-op placement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t meant to be racist and it wouldn\u2019t happen again,\u201d Megan Breeze told the Hamilton Spectator<\/a>. \u201cI just thought it means \u2018OK.\u2019 Like a thumbs up sign.\u201d Advertisement – story continues below<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hamilton Health Services said a community member noticed the photo and made a tip accusing Breeze of racism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe informed the school board when we were made aware of the posts in early October,\u201d HHS spokesperson Wendy Stewart. \u201cAs the pictures in the posts were taken at HHS sites, we acted decisively to emphasize that we expect all persons who come to our sites, regardless of whether they are an employee, patient, visitor or vendor to behave in a manner that ensures everyone at HHS feels respected, safe and welcome.\u201d Is making the “OK” sign racist? Yes No Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board spokesperson Shawn McKillop said the details were \u201cconfidential.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA community member noticed an unacceptable symbol in a social media post and reported it to HWDSB and program partner, Hamilton Health Sciences,\u201d McKillop said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe symbol, which can be interpreted as promoting hate, does not align with HWDSB\u2019s commitment to equity and inclusion. Symbols of hate that promote racism or white supremacy ideology are not tolerated in HWDSB or anywhere in our community. The image was immediately taken down.\u201d Advertisement – story continues below<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ah, Megan, you\u2019ve been caught in a hoax. A costly hoax, to be sure, and, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, one that, like your experience, is not funny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe social-media-driven controversy over the meaning of the well-known hand sign has arisen in part as the result of a deliberate hoax concocted on the internet message board 4chan, which in addition to its well-earned reputation as a gateway to the racist \u2018alt-right\u2019 is perhaps more broadly known as the home of trolling culture,\u201d the SPLC<\/a> website said. Related: Politifact Won’t Remove False Fact Check Saying Rittenhouse Illegally Possessed Gun After Charge Tossed<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c[W]hat it\u2019s about most of the time is a deliberate attempt to \u2018trigger liberals\u2019 into overreacting to a gesture so widely used that virtually anyone has plausible deniability built into their use of it in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet, the SPLC<\/a> explained, real white supremacists also use it to signal to each other. Advertisement – story continues below<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to tell the difference? It\u2019s the smirk, SPLC says. \u201cThe smirk gives away the proper answer: You\u2019re being trolled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But that doesn\u2019t help Breeze, who said she simply used it as an OK sign and lost her co-op post as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a worse fate for Emmanuel Cafferty in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He lost his job at San Diego Gas & Electric because, near a Black Lives Matter<\/a> rally, his fingers supposedly telegraphed white supremacy as they were dangling from a truck window and were photographed, according to KNSD-TV. Advertisement – story continues below<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy<\/a> and Terms of Use<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n