The 'punch a Nazi' meme: what are the ethics of punching Nazis? | Tauriq Moosa

An assault on "alt-right" figure Richard Spencer sparked the 'punch a Nazi' meme. Violence is bad, but so is racism - so where do we stand ethically?

When a KKK-endorsed alleged sexual assaulter can be elected to the White House, many are rightfully fearful. People of colour are increasingly worried about the normalisation of racism. Many once thought racism would get no further than the lips of a racist relative or a poorly-worded Facebook post. Now these views are entering the Oval Office and federal buildings, given weight by chants and placards and verified Twitter accounts.

On 20 January, Richard Spencer, a prominent figure in the "alt-right" movement, was punched in the face while giving an interview in Washington. The punch spawned a number of "punch a Nazi" memes. It could be said that seeing a prominent representative of racist views being punched brings catharsis in a world that appears to be slouching toward Nazism.