All the symbols depicted in the hate symbols database must be evaluated in the context in which they appear. Few symbols represent just one idea or are used exclusively by one group. For example, 100% is often used as an amount or an expression and it is also used by some white supremacists as shorthand for "100% white." Similarly, other symbols in this database may be significant to people who are not extreme or racist. The descriptions here point out significant multiple meanings but may not be able to relay every possible meaning of a particular symbol.
Group Status: Active
The Hammerskins are a large, racist skinhead group with a history of violence. They use a "crossed hammers" hand sign that consists of crossing two upright forearms with clenched fists, emulating the "crossed hammers" of the Hammerskins' logo.
It should be noted that fans of the English soccer team West Ham United, which has a crest that includes crossed rivet hammers, may also employ a “crossed hammers” gesture. This gesture is innocuous and should not be confused or conflated with that of the Hammerskins. Symbols should always be judged carefully in their specific context.
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