Tattoo fixers on removing Nazi symbols: You don't know if they're changing or hiding'

"Last week, Graham Platner, a progressive Democrat running for the US Senate in Maine, responded to a burst of online criticism by doing something few candidates for high office are ever required to do: he posted a topless photo of himself on the internet. It was an unusual moment in a campaign that had so far gone his way. Platner had won praise from progressives and secured the backing of Bernie Sanders."

"The design, known as the Totenkopf, is widely recognised as a Nazi symbol. Platner insists he had no idea of its associations when he got the tattoo, drunk, while stationed in Croatia during his 20s as a marine. After learning of its meaning, he says, he covered it with a new design a Celtic cross and a dog and released the topless photo to prove it."

Graham Platner posted a topless photo to show that a skull-and-crossbones tattoo on his chest had been covered. The skull-and-crossbones design, known as the Totenkopf, is widely recognised as a Nazi symbol. Platner says he got the tattoo while drunk and stationed in Croatia during his twenties as a marine and claims he did not know its associations. After learning its meaning he says he covered the image with a Celtic cross and a dog. Tattoo artists and laser-removal technicians regularly treat clients seeking to erase far-right symbols. Nonprofits such as Jails to Jobs maintain directories of low-cost removal programs and assist formerly incarcerated people, trafficking survivors, domestic-violence victims and others with hate-based or coerced tattoos.

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