On Tuesday (March 10), a group of former Elizabeth Warren staffers faced a swift backlash to the new matching tattoos they got to commemorate her campaign over their unfortunate resemblance to numbered Holocaust tattoos.
The tattoos, which are in Warren’s handwriting, read “#B7E4CF” — the hex code for the “Liberty Green” color used by the campaign. But as many pointed out on Twitter, they looked a little too similar to the numbers Nazis tattooed on the arms of Jewish people in concentration camps during the Holocaust.
can't believe warren's campaign didn't have a quiz training staffers on how not to get a holocaust tattoo
— Naomi LaChance (@lachancenaomi) March 10, 2020
warren staffers getting holocaust-esque tattoos is not something i thought i'd see
tell me about bernie's cult of personality again? pic.twitter.com/Z8CODg8zIr
— p.e. moskowitz (@_pem_pem) March 10, 2020
Perhaps most stunningly, one staffer (Raquel Breternitz) tweeted that she had actually considered the tattoo’s similarity to the WWII-era atrocities but still got it anyway, writing, “I promise I thought about that and chose placement so it wouldn’t be seen on the outer arm.”
One of the people who got the tattoo knew that it looked similar to a Holocaust tattoo, and still chose to get it. Notice below the "my partner is Jewish" and "I'm sorry it feels that way for you" cards. Please, folks, be aware of and careful with your privilege.🤦 pic.twitter.com/nzGgoxkkYM
— Rabbi Andy Kahn (@rabbiandykahn) March 10, 2020
To their credit, after listening to the criticism of their new ink, at least two of the Warren staffers who got the tattoos apologized and promised to modify them. “Thanks to all who called me on this,” Berternitz wrote. “I do not want to evoke or make light of the Holocaust. I apologize for missing the mark. I am here to listen and will strive to be better at living in solidarity with my Jewish friends. I’m sorry, and I will take steps to modify the tattoo.”
Thanks to all who called me on this. I do not want to evoke or make light of the Holocaust. I apologise for missing the mark. I am here to listen and will strive to be better at living in solidarity with my Jewish friends. I'm sorry, and I will take steps to modify the tattoo.
— Raquel Breternitz ❦ 🩸🦷🌹 (@RaquelDesigns) March 10, 2020
Eric Ziminsky added “Thank you for holding us accountable on our mistakes” and offered a few ideas for alternative Warren-themed tattoos.
Hey y’all, I’m sorry as well, and will be making modifications. Thank you for holding us accountable on our mistakes. I would recommend for folks who are thinking of a similar tattoo, please look for alternatives such as, pinky promise, logo, persist, or DBFH. https://t.co/3OyGfg6JqL
— eric (@ericziminsky) March 10, 2020
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