Because hate, whether visible or hidden, runs through our everyday spaces. This guide provides the tools to spot hateful symbols and speech, understand their meaning and assess their impact, whether ideological or legal. It helps everyone stay vigilant and prevent escalation toward violence.
Caricatural meme meant to depict a Jewish man smiling while rubbing his hands together (implying dishonest intentions). First popularized as a drawing in the mid-2000s on various white supremacist sites, it now circulates on Alt-Right forums such as 4chan and Gab. An exclusively antisemitic symbol, it is now part of the Alt-Right’s iconography.
Emoji used in reference to white and male superiority, as well as a rejection of veganism, feminism, and diversity. The association between milk and white supremacy is linked to a 20th-century notion that “white peoples” have a greater tolerance for lactose due to a specific genetic mutation. This association was recently repopularized within the far right following a 2017 white supremacist demonstration in front of an anti-Trump art installation, during which protesters chugged gallons of milk. Many white supremacists and Alt-Right activists then began adding glass-of-milk emojis to their Twitter names and using the hashtag #MilkTwitter, sometimes in opposition to the notion of the Soyboy. Since the “glass of milk” emoji, like many web symbols, can be used ironically, its use does not automatically signal adherence to far-right ideologies, and it is important to consider the context in which it is used.
Expression referring to a system used online by far-right groups to convey racist remarks using code words, allowing them to conceal their opinions. These code words also make it possible to evade Google’s algorithm, which flags certain content and can trace it back to these groups. As part of this “Operation Google,” words such as “blue,” “blueish,” or “skype” are used to designate Jewish people and to convey hateful remarks about them in a concealed way.
Frog meme depicting a character from Matt Furie’s comic Boy’s Club. Pepe appears in several variations (Sad Pepe, Smug Frog, Angry Pepe) and is used to illustrate different moods, like other memes. In recent years, the image was taken up by unmoderated forums such as 4chan and became, despite itself, the icon and mascot of a significant portion of the Alt-Right. Today, Pepe is almost always associated with far-right content. Used on its own, this symbol does not necessarily represent adherence to far-right ideologies, and may indicate an understanding of meme subculture or familiarity with the Alt-Right. It is therefore important to consider the context in which it is used.
