Only an idiot constantly pokes a sleeping bear. The white guy provoked and got a response by his apparel - that wasn't good enough. He made open denigrating remarks anyone should have taken as offensive. He alone bears the responsibility for his asinine behavior of treating another person with such bigotted hatred.
As we say here in Texas, "He messed with the bull, and he got the horns."
The point is still that is still immoral to punch someone because you don't like what was said or displayed. That is all I'm saying.
Since Vietnam, we soldiers have been called "baby killers", but I would never react to someone calling me one by punching them- even though it would take quite a bit of constraint to do so. I have been in the Army for 21 years and it is very offensive to hear that- especially during the last presidential election campaign season. I certainly wouldn't expect a free pass on the assault charge if I were to hit someone.
By the way: why do you use the term "sleeping bear"? Do you mean "black bear"? And, isn't that a bit of a freudian slip? ;-)