How Racist Is This Mcdonald’S Mascot?

The Confederate battle flag, which rioters flew inside the US Capitol, has long been a symbol of white insurrection. The alt-right has adopted terms from various social media platforms, including 4chan, Reddit, men’s rights activists, Gamergaters, pickup artists, and others. The forum appropriated the 1980s McDonald’s restaurant chain mascot, ‘Mac Tonight,’ featuring a smiling crescent moon image wearing sunglasses. TIME analyzed videos and photographs shared on social media after January 6, finding that in addition to Confederate flags, the mob paraded with a host of hate. The popular 14-word white supremacist slogan, visible on signs outside the Capitol on Wednesday, reads “We must secure the existence of our people and a”.

Moon Man, a meme derived from a character in 1980s McDonald’s restaurant commercials, was appropriated by white supremacists, especially from the alt-right. Moon Man videos are parodies of songs with racist and violent lyrics. Due to these associations, both Moon Man and his alt-right spawn joined the white supremacist organization, the Bloodhunts.

Most of the channels have a neo-Nazi ideological position and distribute guides and instructions on how to commit racially motivated acts of hate. White nationalist and male supremacist authors identified hate and extremism as two of the most visible, active, and threatening violent extremist movements operating in the United States.