No Room for Hate: Why ESI’s Response to a Nazi Salute Matters

In southern Idaho, local news outlet Boise Dev first reported on the the actions of Thomas Hill, the CEO of ESI Construction who used a Nazi salute during a company conference last Friday. In his initial response, Hill called the action his “attempt at humor and parody” and asserted he was mimicking President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s “signature dancing.”

Hill resigned on Monday and new leadership will take over the company.  

Many Idahoans, including ESI employees, were extremely upset about Hill’s actions, noting the historical significance of the salute. The Nazi salute was meant to symbolize allegiance to Nazi ideology and reinforce a sense of obedience within the regime. Those who refused to perform the salute risked persecution, imprisonment, or worse.

Some of us have wondered if in today’s society both the right and the left are too quick to “cancel” someone for an ill-advised comment. But there is a real difference between a misstatement and the intentional display of a Nazi salute.  The quick action by ESI sets an important example for all of us - we cannot tolerate hate in this state.