Funny: U.S. attorney in Kentucky inadvertently honors comic book vigilante embraced by alt-right

You wouldn’t expect a U.S. attorney to celebrate a comic book character known for vigilante justice and embraced by real-life white nationalists and neo-Nazis.

But that happened Friday when U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman, as part of his “Challenge Coin Friday” honoring law enforcement agencies, posted a coin on his office’s Twitter feed showing “The Punisher.”

Funny: U.S. attorney in Kentucky inadvertently honors comic book vigilante embraced by alt-right 43f95bc5-2647-4404-98da-74db16d1cae2-Screen_Shot_2020-11-20_at_3.20.20_PM

Funny: U.S. attorney in Kentucky inadvertently honors comic book vigilante embraced by alt-right 43f95bc5-2647-4404-98da-74db16d1cae2-Screen_Shot_2020-11-20_at_3.20.20_PM

The Marvel Comics character was created in 1974 and more recently featured in a streaming series on Netflix as an anti-hero who dispenses brutal justice on his enemies.

The skull symbol the Punisher wears on his chest has been adopted by militias, the alt-right and some police officers as a symbol of extra-judicial justice.

In an interview, Coleman said he had no idea of the symbol’s “vile associations with Nazis” when he posted it to “honor the men and women of law enforcement who stare down the worst of humanity to combat exploitation of children,” as he wrote on Twitter.

He said he was “absolutely horrified” when he found out and immediately took down the post down after an inquiry from The Courier Journal.

In a statement tweeted Friday afternoon, he said: “Unfortunately, there was some imagery that has been interpreted in ways unintended. I sincerely regret any distraction this may have caused.”

Before the tweet was removed, it was denounced by several commenters.

One said, “You know The Punisher is a vigilante who tortures and summarily executes people without due process of law, right, sometimes for minor offenses?

Another wrote: “You are endorsing white supremacy and domestic terrorism. Not a good look.”

In 2018, Three Percent Nation, an anti-government militia, unveiled a logo that incorporated the Punisher image. In 2017, the decals were seen at the violent alt-right rally in Charlottesville, Va., in which 19 protesters were injured and one was killed.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/crime/2020/11/20/kentucky-prosecutor-touts-alt-right-embraced-vigilante-punisher/6361708002/

Funny: U.S. attorney in Kentucky inadvertently honors comic book vigilante embraced by alt-right

Funny: U.S. attorney in Kentucky inadvertently honors comic book vigilante embraced by alt-right

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