So a few posts similar to this have been going around, but they're not quite as extensive as they could be, so I'm making my own, because I did my research on this when I bought my first pair of docs over 2 years ago.

Yes, the lace code still exists, because nazis/racists/white supremists still use it. I could tell you all about my cousin who was recruited into the local neo-nazi gang, and had the laces, braces, shaved head and everything. That was only two years ago!

The code is/was largely regional, and the peak of its use was in the 80s and 90s, but it's still used today in some areas, and you need to be careful. If you wear docs, you should be aware of it.

Colours To Avoid:

White: "white power/white supremist." It originated as a way for skins identify each other.

Red: Typically means "neo-nazi" or "nationalist front." I've heard it can also mean "I killed/spilled the blood of a POC." (In some areas, red even meant communist or socialist! But because of the former meaning being more widely known, it's unfortunately a colour to avoid.)

Blue: "I killed a cop." Another one you want to avoid. The fact that there were people openly bragging about killing a cop is disgusting. I've also heard it can mean anti-racist or Straight-Edge, but I would still steer clear of it due to the former meaning.

Safe Colours

Yellow/Black: neutral/antiracist. Default doc Martens lace colours, always a safe bet.

Pink: This ones kind of iffy, so take care. I was told that it means "queer pride/queer bash back." I heard from somewhere else that it originally meant "gay/queer basher," but as far as I'm aware it's been mostly reclaimed by LGBTQ individuals.

Purple: Gay pride.

Green: this one's weird. It depends heavily on your area as to what green could mean. Codes I found around the Internet for green laces included Irish pride, enviromentalist, SHARP and Ska fan. Generally a safe colour.

Orange: this one I've never known a meaning for. If you choose to put orange laces on your docs, make sure they don't look red.

Grey: no meaning either. Make sure they're not too light that they look white.

(If anyone's heard of meanings for grey and orange, feel free to add them on.)

Multi colour: you're probably safe as long as it's not a combination of red and white.

Moral of the story: Do your research, learn the code, and be safe.