Punching Nazi's may feel right but that does't mean it is right, some critics are grousing about Dropkick Murphys bassist Ken Casey, who allegedly came out swinging when confronted with an unwelcome far right fan at one of the band's recent gigs.
Casey allegedly took a swing at an audience member at the Boston-based band's St. Patrick’s Day concert after the fan shocked concert goers by delivering a 'Heil Hitler' salute.
Boston has had a checkered history concerning race relations, with the Irish in particular coming in for criticism at one time, so the issue and the provocation made some fans and band members see red.
According to the Boston Globe, Casey decked the fan, causing a brief melee to ensue. Afterward, Casey told the applauding audience, 'Nazis are not f---ing welcome at a Dropkick Murphys show.'
But a Globe editorial said that Casey was wrong to punch the fan but right to call him out for his egregious salute.
Trying to close down on odious speech can be counterproductive, they wrote, because it can give hate speech an outlaw allure.
Casey missed the opportunity to send a clear signal that hate speech is always socially unacceptable, the editorial contends.
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