Actual Polaroid found at his parent’s house.

Attacking someone for saying something you disagree with is a violation of our freedom of speech.

First off I’d like to say that I do not agree with the ideologies of the alt-right movement, however, Richard Spencer has the right to express his views without being attacked.

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects every American’s right to freedom of speech, not just those we agree with. I understand that this man has Nazi principles and considering what that means; he is an abhorrent human being to most of you, and to me as well. Freedom of speech allows us that right too, the right to abhor someone, the right to argue against someone, everything up until the point of physically silencing that individual.

Previous Nazi Demonstration

Back in 1977, a Nazi group announced their intention to march through the village of Skokie, Illinois; a place with over 40,000 Jewish residents, 5,000 of which were holocaust survivors. The residents of Skokie decided to take the Nazis to court to prevent their march.

The case centred around the use of the swastika as a way to inflict emotional pain on the Jewish population and promote hatred towards them. The Illinois Supreme Court ended up ruling in favour of the Nazis by stating that the swastika ‘is a symbolic form of free speech entitled to First Amendment protections’. On face value this may seem like a negative outcome. However, Imagine for a second that the courts ruled in favour of the Skokie residents; there would be a precedent set to arrest any person — up to and including you — that the government feels is expressing a belief they don’t agree with. To silence the Nazis would be to create a rod for your own back.

The Nazis had their demonstration a year later in Chicago, but not in Skokie. No violence took place.

According to the Illinois Holocaust Museum: “Holocaust survivors around the world were shocked. They realized that, despite their desire to leave the past behind, they could no longer remain silent. In the wake of these attempted marches, Chicago-area survivors joined together to form the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois. They purchased a small Skokie storefront and made it available to the public, especially to schoolchildren, focusing on combating hate with education.” If this demonstration never took place, the survivors never would’ve taken action, and this foundation — which eventually became the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center — may never have existed.

Conclusion

So this is my plea to the general public, fight speech with speech. If the alt-right ever decide to commit violent acts, I will be behind the courts all the way in prosecuting those involved. Stop sharing, laughing and approving of this punch because it’s the first step down a long road to decivilisation.

To attack someone affiliated with Nazism, after 40,000 Jewish people in Skokie decided free speech was worth more than violence, is ridiculous. If they can hold off on violence in the face of that much provocation, why can’t we?