Though a lot of vegans have reacted with glee at the news that Lierre Keith was pied in the face while criticizing factory farming, some vegans are not entirely comfortable with the assault:

Eppy: “It’s a little frustrating to see anarchists doing this sort of shit, actually. It’s a horrible invitation. ‘Hey, come join our lawless utopia where every time I disagree with you, I’ll physically assault you with dessert and other projectiles.’”

Movingtomontana: Pieing this woman is mere bullying. When the police are the only means of protection available, no matter how objectionable the Pigs are, calling on them for protection is not an ideological failure on the part of any anarchist or anyone else who is ideologically opposed to the current state of society.

Chris: “I wanted to go see Lierre Keith today at the library, but was unable. I am vegan and I am curious about what she has to say. I don’t like the name of her book because personally I have to deal with lots of questions, jokes, criticism, and ignorance around my veganism. … But because I don’t like the title doesn’t mean I won’t go try to understand what she is saying and decide for myself if there is anything of value there. I would never have pied the woman or encouraged anyone else to—as a vegan, I believe in non-violence.”

momservo: “Wow, am I the only one who thinks that this was a totally horrible thing to do? I get that Lierre Keith has said some controversial and disrespectful stuff about vegans (and yes, I read the book), but she has the right to say what she wants, especially at an event that she has been invited to speak at. Nobody has to listen to her if it bothers them and there are much more respectful ways to engage with someone that you disagree with. Not cool, in my opinion.”

Stewps: “I haven’t read her book, nor do I plan to, but three men publicly humiliating and essentially assaulting a woman isn’t at all something I can get behind, even though I am a vegan myself. I understand her basic arguments, but I don’t find them at all troubling enough to warrant that kind of response.”

000: “I was there when the 3 cowards (men) came up behind this woman and attacked her. I was shocked by the realization of what happened, and I can only imagine how she felt about it. Keith was a guest of the book fair, not some fucking corporate CEO. The disrespect that these cowards displayed will only encourage me to seek out her arguments in more detail.

“I don’t know Keith personally, and as a vegetarian for 24 years, I probably don’t agree with her arguments, BUT I WANTED TO HEAR THEM. … Please do us a favor, and leave the anarchist movement so the rest of us can get on with saving the planet from capitalism.”