Pepe the frog, an internet image used predominantly on alt-right websites and other online forums, is officially a hate symbol, according to an advocacy group dedicated to fighting anti-Semitism in the United States. And that’s not sitting well with defenders of free expression.

The Anti-Defamation League said the popular meme has been used to illustrate “racist, anti-Semitic or other bigoted themes” around online forums like 4chan, 8chan and Reddit. The ADL also acknowledged the image is largely used in a way that is not racist or bigoted.

“Once again, racists and haters have taken a popular internet meme and twisted it for their own purposes of spreading bigotry and harassing users,” ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt said in a statement.

“These anti-Semites have no shame. They are abusing the image of a cartoon character, one that might at first seem appealing, to harass and spread hatred on social media.”

https://twitter.com/susie_c/status/781164214052192256

The story goes that artist Matt Furie created the character as part of a comic called Boy’s Club, and Pepe the frog made its first appearance in 2005. But Furie said the cartoon was not intended to be mean-spirited or a symbol of hate. Since then, the character has been turned into an internet meme — with superimposed objects or words — to contextualize humor.

Online, Donald Trump supporters have used the meme to criticize Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Sometimes the frog appears to be wearing a swastika or other Nazi-related symbolism.

The Trump campaign and its supporters have embraced the meme through out the election season.

https://twitter.com/RogerJStoneJr/status/774684329016299520

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/653856168402681856

But not all Pepe memes are racist or offensive. Defenders of the meme have questioned whether such a character could fall under the same category as Nazi propaganda or KKK symbols.

https://twitter.com/PhillyD/status/781212311520354309

https://twitter.com/MissLizzyNJ/status/781210923214180352

https://twitter.com/fivefifths/status/781200746691829760

https://twitter.com/therealezway/status/781177388449366016

https://twitter.com/tariqnasheed/status/781127613523734528

Is Pepe the frog a symbol of hate? Tell us why the image should or should not be labeled as a hate symbol.

Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @RunGomez