He was assaulted. He was punched. Would you accept being punched? It looks like you would.
Of course I wouldn't accept being punched... The proper punishment would be meted out at that very moment- I would have kicked his ass - As any self-respecting Irish man (not to mention *any* man) should rightly understand (I myself am Dutch).
Free speech AND self-defense are not rights to be taken away by the machinations of the courts of men.