Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner Addresses Tattoo Resembling Nazi Symbol

Tattoo Origin and Discovery

• ⚓ Graham Platner, a Marine Corps veteran, explains he got a skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007 while serving in Fallujah and Ramadi.
• 🗺️ The tattoo was obtained during a Liberty port in Split, Croatia, after carousing with fellow machine gunners.
• 🗓️ Platner states he has had the tattoo for 18 years, including during his re-enlistment into the Army and while working for the State Department, undergoing screenings that did not flag it.

Addressing Resemblance and Intent

• ⚠️ Platner acknowledges that the tattoo has a stark resemblance to a symbol used by neo-Nazis, which he states was not his intent.
• 😨 He expresses horror at the idea of having unknowingly displayed such a symbol and recognizes its damaging nature.
• 🛡️ Platner asserts a life dedicated to anti-fascism, anti-racism, and anti-Nazism, condemning racism and anti-semitism.

Tattoo Cover-Up and Political Context

• 🎨 To address the issue, Platner had the tattoo covered up with a Celtic knot design featuring imagery of dogs, representing his wife and their pets.
• 🎯 He suggests the issue is being amplified by the establishment as a distraction from his political platform, including Medicare for All and raising taxes on the wealthy.
• 🗣️ Platner emphasizes his commitment to engaging with constituents, holding town halls, and addressing their needs, rather than focusing on the tattoo controversy.
• 🙏 He expresses gratitude for the support received, viewing it as a sign that the political system is threatened by his campaign.