Mob at Las Vegas Punk Rock Concert Attacks Man Wearing Alleged SS T-Shirt

A man a t-shirt that boldly featured an alleged SS symbol associated with Nazi Germany attended the Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival in Las Vegas wearing and was attacked by an angry mob for doing so. This sparked heated discussion among punk rock fans and the meaning behind the man’s t-shirt logo.

Alleged Neo-Nazi Attacked at Las Vegas Concert

A video circulating on social media shows other festivalgoers confronting the man with punches and shoves as security removed him from the venue. One person can be heard shouting, “No fucking Nazis,” while another added, “Get out of our scene.” The logo on the man’s T-shirt was identified as promoting Dago Choppers. This is a self-deprecating name adopted by the Italian founders of Venice Choppers, a motorcycle shop in Venice, California, that was once linked to the Hells Angels.

The video made the rounds on social media, and a lot of commenters seem to congratulate the angry mob for their actions. Some say that there should have been more violence against the man with the controversial t-shirt, while others wrote that the one who punched him should get a beer. One Instagram user also said that the fact that someone would consider it acceptable to wear something like this in public reflects the state of the country. At the same time, the commenter said that the response from individuals in the video demonstrates that many are not willing to stand by silently.

Others Defend the Man

Despite the attacked man’s controversial action, some commentators have defended him. One commenter explained how Punk rock and biker culture both originated as rebellions against societal norms and, in theory, share a similar spirit. Wearing provocative or offensive symbols has long been a part of both subcultures. From that perspective, it’s disheartening to see a group described as part of the hardcore scene confronting an older man simply because his clothing offended them, according to the commenter.

Another commenter said that the man’s Dago Choppers shirt is a reference to biker culture. Historically, such symbols were often used to represent rebellion rather than Nazi ideology, according to the commenter. Similar imagery, like the Iron Cross in the Orange County Choppers logo or stylized runes in KISS’s branding, has not been taken to indicate Nazi affiliation, they gave as an example.

It could be argued that the incident highlights the enduring divide within punk rock that began when neo-Nazi white supremacists first infiltrated the scene in late-1970s England. Although influential American punk bands like Black Flag and the Dead Kennedys actively worked to push far-right extremists out of the scene. Dead Kennedys even released the 1981 track “Nazi Punks Fuck Off,” yet elements of the punk audience have continued to include neo-Nazi followers over the years