Former 20-year vegan Lierre Keith gets assaulted by vegans while giving a talk
Just when you think it can’t get any worse with the radical nature of the vegan diet advocates, along comes something like what I’m about to share with you today that delivers a strong reminder that there is a contingent of people out there who do not want the truth about their way of eating exposed. It’s one thing to disagree and have a healthy debate of ideas about diet and nutrition and their relationship to a healthy lifestyle. But acting criminally and causing harm to another human being in the process is just about as disgusting as it comes.
The crime took place at the 15th Annual San Francisco Anarchist Bookfair on Saturday while former vegan Lierre Keith was speaking about her book The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice & Sustainability where she responds to the common reasons for becoming a vegetarian or vegan and why they are completely invalid. It’s a controversial subject to say the least and going to an “anarchist” speaking engagement certainly invites trouble. But if you’ve heard Lierre Keith speak or read her book then already you’d know why she’d be willing to put herself out there like that (listen to her various recent podcast interviews here, here, and here, for example). In fact, here is a YouTube video of her speaking at a similar event in June 2009:
So imagine Lierre Keith giving her speech about her book like the one above from 2:00-2:30PM on Saturday, March 13, 2010 when suddenly out of nowhere she gets pelted in the face by three idiots wielding not just a pie, but one that has been laced with cayenne pepper. This is the stuff they put in pepper spray mace for people who are attacked by a would-be criminal. Except this time, the one who got physically assaulted was merely speaking the truth and letting people decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong. This took place in the San Francisco County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park. And the glee over this barbaric attack that is taking place by pro-vegan web sites is repulsive.
My paleo blogging buddy Richard Nikokey was all over this story right after it happened and I hope the message spreads across the blogosphere about what these vegan idiots have done. This is why I wrote a chapter in my latest book that I called “Whatever you do, don’t rile up the vegetarians and vegans” and this is exactly why. They will stop at nothing to keep on shoving their message down our throats and resorting to sophomoric behavior to prop themselves up. People have been brainwashed into thinking there is some sort of health right bestowed to vegetarians and vegans because they are “kind” towards animals or the planet, but they are the very people who need to hear Lierre Keith speak or read her book.
After learning about this incident, I wrote to Lierre Keith since I interviewed her on my podcast earlier this year to see how she is doing after the attack. Needless to say, she was still physically feeling the impact of the cayenne peppers over 24 hours later.
My eyes are still puffy and blurry, but the pain is definitely better. I think the worst part was hearing people cheer my assailants while I was being assaulted. I don’t want to live in a world where people cheer while someone has cayenne rubbed into their eyes. They are vile, vicious people.
WOW! What do say to something like this? Something tells me Lierre Keith will not back down from her message simply because of this cowardly incident. She will rise above it stronger than ever before because she knows what she is sharing with people is the truth and nothing can ultimately keep that from getting out there. I for one think we all need to support her by picking up multiple copies of her book to show her how much we love and appreciate the work she is doing. Pushing The Vegetarian Myth up the Amazon rankings will tick off the vegans even more and make ‘em wish they’d never started this fight in the first place.
You can share your support for Lierre Keith at The Vegetarian Myth Facebook page or by sending her an e-mail at lierrekeith@yahoo.com. Thank her for all of her contributions to spreading the message and that you support her in her continued efforts. If the vegans want to scorn her for not choosing veganism, then we should praise her for standing up as a proud omnivore.
3-16-10 2:45PM ET UPDATE: I am conducting a mini-interview with Lierre Keith at 3PM ET today to have her respond to this vicious attack against her by some radical vegans on Saturday. The interview will air at the beginning of my podcast show on Thursday. She is healing from the eye damage caused by the cayenne pepper pie, but now she has an ear infection resulting from the “vegan goop” (as she calls it) that got into her ear canal and got infected. You’ll hear more about the incident and how she’s doing on Thursday! THANKS!
3-16-10 4:30PM ET UPDATE: Lierre Keith responds to her cayenne pepper pie attackers in an interview I conducted with her today and will air on “The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show” on Thursday. The 15-minute conversation includes how she knew something might happen at the event before it happened, what became of the three people who assaulted her, her recollection of the entire incident as it was taking place, the physical effect this had on her eyes and inner ear, and what message she wants to share with this form of protest from radical vegans. DON’T MISS IT!
IndyBay has removed the vile column with vegans gloating about this assault on Lierre Keith, but the video of it with Benny Hill music playing in the background still exists on YouTube. Report this tasteless video of the vicious cayenne pepper pie attack on Lierre Keith on Saturday to YouTube. Click on “Flag” and then the sub-category “Hateful or Abusive Content” and then “Bullying.” Please spread the word about this and demand it is removed ASAP!
I am saddened but not shocked to read this story. In the arena of ideas, the first person to act aggressively (no matter whether that’s name-calling or shooting them with a gun) is the true loser.
I’m not saying it’s an open-and-shut case, but if truth was on their side, would they feel the need to assault people like Lierre? I really don’t think so.
Hats off to you, Lierre, for speaking the truth… I hope you’re able to press charges for the assault (if that’s what you desire).
James, you are dead on! But Lierre has remained classy through all of this. I admire her poise through a very difficult circumstance.
–Jimmy
As a former vegetarian of 15 years (and vegan for 2) I have to agree. The vegetarian (in particular vegan) lifestyle draws the most intense sort of people and keeps them there with their cult-like brainwashing. When I unsubscribed to a particular vegetarian site dedicated towards Christians in the lifestyle I was told they hoped I returned to a compassionate lifestyle. In 25 years of reading the Bible, I never once came across anything stating it was compassionate to turn from meat and dairy. In fact, quite the opposite, it says when people begin saying it is more spiritual to not eat meat, then you know you are in the last days. The vegetarian/vegan culture has even infiltrated the church to the detriment of many people’s health.
Keep in mind that these people who attacked Lierre Keith probably suffer from a mental illness of some sort brought on by various vitamin deficiencies.
Well said, Kim! You’re not gonna want to miss my upcoming interview with Kevin Brown on June 14, 2010 where he talks about the REAL Biblical diet that runs counter to what you’ve always heard…and backed by the Scripture.
–Jimmy
Thanks for the great post. I was blown away not by the anger and the hatred shown to Lierre, but the pain they wished to cause her.
This has had the effect of putting her book in a lot more hands.
I agree, Bill! THANKS for your comments!
–Jimmy
I have another comment, but it’s pretty controversial and off-topic for this blog, so no problem if it doesn’t get approved.
The word “anarchism” is incredibly misunderstood. Of course, we’re told from very early on that “anarchism” means “chaos and violence and destruction” and that we need rulers to have “order and peace and growth.”
“Anarchy” simply means “no rulers.” This means that we make our own decisions–they are not forced on us by others. We already enjoy this in the majority of our lives: who to marry, who to befriend, where to live (somewhat), what to do for a job (mostly)–and the list goes on.
We also enjoy freedom in what we eat, for the most part. We enjoy anarchy when it comes to food, although it is certainly made difficult by nonsense rules that are imposed upon us.
That disgust and anger you feel at those vegans? I would put forward that it is because they are willing to use violence in order to force you to eat the way they want you to eat. They are not anarchists–they wish to be rulers.
A mad desire to rule over others belies a very troubled soul, as exemplified by the lengths they will go to obtain that power.
Let us continue to convince and entice people regarding nutrition using reason and evidence! Let us not be rulers, let us not dominate others with violence… but instead, let us be anarchists, in that true and noble sense of the word: that of choice.
LOVE IT, James! I’ll let others put their two cents worth in on the discussion.
–Jimmy
We can all agree that such acts are despicable. But I wonder whether Ms. Keith herself would actually condemn such acts in support of something she favors.
She is on record as stating she is a “radical” activist who has “broken [her] share of windows” in the past, and advocates doing “whatever is necessary” to achieve her radical environmentalist goals.
She advocates bringing down the electrical grid or destroying the financial sector in order to collapse modern society.
So it stikes me as a little hypocritical for her to pose as someone who “doesn’t want to live in a world where people cheer when someone has cayenne rubbed in their eyes.” Much worse than that would happen to millions of people if the electrical grid went down, yet Ms. Keith would cheer that.
Read her radical statements for yourself, here:
http://www.inthewake.org/keith1.html
Vegetarians/vegans in my opinion are no better than any other sort of reactionary. We live in America where we’re allegedly free to speak our minds. And then sonething like this happens where we’re reminded of exactly how the world really turns. It’s maddening but she seems like a very strong woman and she’ll probably be okay.
Things like this are why Lisa on the Simpsons has always bothered me. No, this is not an attempt at levity. I’m serious. Think about Lisa Simpson, also a vegetarian, and maybe if/when you watch the show observe the way she behaves with regard to her “ideals” and the holier-than-thou streak in all of her fundamentally flawed intellectual malarkey. An opinion, no matter how strong, does not a fact make. Reactionaries and extremists, political, religious, nuritional or otherwise, don’t seem to understand this. Low carb is about more than nutrition and health. It’s also becoming about personal liberties and freedom of expression.
I write about movies, art and the like with a critical eye on my blog concerningart.blogspot.com. It’s not a nutritional blog, but I think its a good example of an attempt at the kind of critical thinking that’s necessary to making wise decisions about a lot of things in life, including food.
I feel for this lady. She shouldn’t be injured, and in a public place too, for expressing her views. Cowardice in its purest form.
Has Ms. Keith filed a police report on this incident? I have not seen the incident covered in any local SF press. Presumably such an assault would be newsworthy.
Karen, I asked Lierre if she knew whether the perpetrators have been arrested, but I haven’t heard back from her. I will try to do a quick interview with her about this incident for Thursday’s podcast show.
–Jimmy
There are idiots in every faction of our culture, veganism not withstanding. But please don’t attack ALL vegans in your statements. Those people should be ashamed to call themselves vegan. Lisa Simpson, by the way, is ‘holier-than-thou’ ALL THE TIME, not just because she’s vegetarian. Oh yeah, and she’s not a real person.
I love what she says in the video and her point about agriculture is a great one. However, it should not be taken alone, as the meat industry parallels this problem. We’re destroying our planet because we hate each other and throw pies in each other’s faces, not because some of us are striving to include more compassion in our lives.
Sara, I can appreciate your sentiment. But I’m not indicting ALL vegans for these cowardly barbaric acts against Lierre Keith. But it is the truth in this situation about these particular vegans.
–Jimmy
For Heaven’s sake. I hope she presses charges. Pepper spray is what the police use. (What a waste of good cayenne for such an ugly purpose… .)
p.s. Lawyer husband: “Assault and battery. And I guess this proves that vegans are not peaceniks… .”
Don’t be “classy” about this, Ms. Keith, to the point of not pressing charges! (If the police had pepper-sprayed you while you were giving your talk, you would have had grounds for a huge lawsuit. In this case, it might be wise to make a point of some sort.)
Thanks for this post Jimmy!!
In response, I’m giving away ONE COPY of The Vegetarian Myth, in support of Lierre Keith.
Details are on my blog:
http://wp.me/pBmHS-AY
You go Ramona!
–Jimmy
I’m interested in your interview about the Biblical diet. I’ve had a friend of mine insist that meat wasn’t given to eat until after being tossed out of the garden. I look forward to it…
This just proves what a bunch of intolerant fascists her assailants and their supporters are. They would rather attempt to suppress opinions different from their own using violence which really makes them no different from Brownshirts or dictatorial societies like Iran.
I apologize if I’ve offended a whole group of people, i.e. vegans, vegetarians, or whomever. I know Lisa is a fictional cartoon character, but the people who write her character are real and they’re attempting to charicaturize through Lisa real people who are like her, at least in this case with respect to vegetarianism. My main point was about personal freedom and I feel its very unfortunate that a person can’t speak out on an issue like nutrition or simply food preferences without being publicly humiliated.
I used the Simpsons as an example because that show provides stellar examples of food police culture and the low carb lifestyle is, in my opinion, not just about health and nutrition, althought that’s very important, but it’s also about the freedom to eat what you like without being chastised for it. Most people who go on a low carb diet have at least one story of a friend or relative making a snarky comment like “What? You don’t eat bread? Why?!” Some people even tell you that your a fool for eating low carb. Those are rude and unnecessary comments. All I was trying to say is that I’m sick of people who always think they know better than you do about what you should be eating.
A woman who wrote a book got attacked while she was in a public forum speaking to people who presumably came to hear about her book. That shouldn’t happen. Ever.
How horrible that people will use violence and humiliation, instead of rational argument, to make their point. I admire Lierre Keith for being true to her rational convictions and having the courage to change her views. I, too, was once a vegetarian.
But ironically, Lierre Keith is also a proponent of violence, who wants to violently change society, from what it is now, into a society of her choosing, of her design — even if it leads to the deaths of hundreds of millions of people… Just read the things she’s written.
I believe in freedom: in a world where we are each free to live and be the best we can be, knowing that the world belongs to all of us, and while we each should work to make it the best it can be, we will only achieve that end result when we get everyone else to understand and believe in our rational arguments — never through violent revolution — rather through love and respect.
Donate a copy of The Vegetarian Myth to your local library!
I am ordering her book today!
They are really just a bunch of pathetic losers with a strong need to feel that their worthless, short lives actually mean something. Therefore, they attack a 45 year old woman with a damaged spine just so they and their equally vile supporters can feel like heroic freedom fighters in their fat-deficient brains.
I think it’s obnoxious, but she thinks okay to be violent to make your point, so I guess I’ll defer to her.
I do think it would be fun to have a group of lipophobes and carbophobes throw whipped cream pies at each other (fat free, sugar free whipped cream of course), just to demonstrate how silly it is that people want to clobber people who have different ideas about what to have for dinner.
Peter, I’ve set up a brief interview with Lierre to air on my podcast on Thursday, so I’ll be sure to ask her about her own personal viewpoints regarding the use of violence to make a point.
–Jimmy
“It’s a controversial subject to say the least and going to an “anarchist” speaking engagement certainly invites trouble.”
Actually, anarchists are the most peaceful people you can find, they are villified by the government propaganda because anarchist advocates for a state-less society. Anyone who actually are familiar with the anarchist communities on the Internet, would soon realize this.
I am sad to hear that some idiots assaulted her, a fellow human being which have come to great conclusions and tells the world of her experiences for others to learn from.
As an anarchist myself, I do not consider those three people that assaulted her to be anarchist at all. Assault is totally against everything I beleive in.
I’ve been a vegan for almost 2 years and I’ve made sure to steer clear of the likes of PETA and the ALF. Anyone who thinks the likes of wrapping interns naked in saran wrap, throwing paint on people wearing fur/leather, breaking into labs to “free” animal test subjects, and assaulting people with pepper are absolutely batsh*t crazy.
I want it known there ARE rational vegans out there. When PETA comes out with a campaign like “sea kittens” or an author that expresses her opinion that opposes the vegan lifestyle is assaulted, I am absolutely mortified.
I hope it is relayed to her that there ARE vegans/vegetarians out there, and we support her because it is her right to have her views and voice them. Of course I can’t support the beliefs themselves, but that gives me no right to censor her abilities to express them. I wish you good health, Lierre.
THANKS for sharing those sentiments, TJ! Have you read THE VEGETARIAN MYTH? I’d love to know what you disagree with about it.
–Jimmy
Violence is unforgivable! What ever you wear, put in your mouth or believe in – you have no rights to use violence against another fellow living being because they don’t believe in what you support.
This lady has her views and that is great! Let her be! If animals have a right to live so do humans.
This person is just a thug, it is sad that this person is a vegan as it gives vegetarians/ vegans a bad name!!!
I am disgusted by this. I have been an ethical vegan for 14 years and I abhor the violence in some sections of the ‘movement’. All people who throw pies in people’s faces are doing is proving that they lack any ability to discuss the issue in a civil and respectful fashion. You can’t demand respect for other sentient beings and be rude, disrespectful and violent to your fellow human beings. But then, considering that PETA and its supporters think it’s actually effective and acceptable to use sexist, sizeist and generally crass tactics to promote the message of veganism, it’s no surprise that the public think we’re all nutters. This makes me really angry.
Speaks volumes of such a spoiled childish group of misfits. I wish Vegetarians would stop using the word Vegetable when they are clearly Grainatarians. I guess grain consumption leads to violence and wars – let’s check our world history.
Perfect target . Only vegans could have such spot-on aim .
Michel, There was no aiming involved. They sneaked up behind her (cowards) and smashed the pies down on her face.
The thing that strikes me most odd about this attack is that vegan anarchists have attacked an omnivore anarchist for speaking about her views. Bwuh? Why all this infighting between anarchists and violence against other anarchists? That anger and violence needs to be directed against the people it belongs: those in state power. Why pie Lierre in the face when CAFOs still exist? Why pie Lierre when slaughterhouses exist?
The second thing is why no one got up to help Lierre.
That was probably the most shocking thing about this all!
–Jimmy
Piper – I thought the same thing! Why did no one get up and help her? The people in the audience almost have no reaction at all to what had happened.
Michel Lacroix – So true! Love it!
We must, of course distinguish between Vegans and Vegetarians. One could even do a low carb diet as a Vegetarian, but I really doubt as a Vegan or with extreme difficulty and lots of tropical oils, or perhaps protein powders of which I am skeptical.
Another data point to show that a Vegan diet can drive at least some people insane. PETA apparently thinks human rights are subordinate to animal rights a position that seems self contradictory.
I followed your link to the indybay article and indeed the article attacked Lierre Keith. So whoever wrote that article and the paticular mindset of the owners of that website are violent, no matter their rhetoric about saving the Earth, antiwar, etc. However, I read most of the responses posted to that article and they were mostly vehemently against the violence done to Lierre Keith and thought she should have been allowed to speak. I think you should note this in your comments.
No, I will not be removing the IndyBay article because it proves the point that the vegans who did this to Lierre were vicious attackers who people need to realize exist out there. The reason the comments show such support for Lierre is because people who have found out about it from my blog and others who have linked to it. Therefore, it’s staying.
–Jimmy
Regardless of whether you’re an ethical or ecological veg*n or just don’t fancy meat, the important thing to remember is that our food industry is in need of reform on both sides: agricultural practices and meat/dairy. There are lots of problems with the meat industry, just as there are loads of repercussions to consider when becoming a vegetarian or vegan. It doesn’t mean throwing pies, pepper, or paint is the best way to make your point.
Lierre’s message aims to inform, and though others may disagree with all or parts of it, what you eat is a personal choice. I’ve been vegetarian for years, but I can also see much wisdom in the low carb lifestyle and find Lierre makes many great points about the flaws of modern farming. Demonizing veg*ns for their personal food choices is no better than attacking omnivores for theirs. I echo Sara and TJ: it’s a wide, diverse community of vegetarians and vegans out there. Some of us are informed, and some of us even agree with Lierre’s view, and I sincerely doubt those that don’t agree are likely to endorse the assault on Lierre.
Well said, Leigh! THANK YOU for sharing.
–Jimmy
This is the most bizarre thing I’ve seen in a while. Such cowards – bombard the stage while in masks and assault this woman while she is facing the crowd. Absolutely disgusting.
See, this is why I hate to call myself a vegan. I am a peaceful person, only wanting to protect animals from the vile realities of slaughterhouses, and advocating (in a very quiet, peaceful way) for sustainable organic farming. I try to buy local organic produce. I grow my own vegetables and herbs as much as I am able. I eat nuts and seeds and gluten free grains and I’m fit and healthy as a fiddle.
I am outraged on behalf of all of the sane people who would NEVER do this to another being. I am disgusted and I hate to be associated with violence and irrational behaviour. What is next for these ‘activists’? swasticas made of tofu? NO, this is wrong, and no one should EVER force their ideals on anyone else. They are the exception to the rule, and please, PLEASE don’t judge all of us by these miscreants. I NEVER tell anyone that my way of eating is better than anyone else’s – who the heck am I to judge what is right for you? That being said, I’m still a vegan…maybe just quieter than ever on the subject
Sadly, Meghan, these are the people representing veganism in our culture and we need your voice of reason to end the insane practices of these radical few. Consider blogging to share what your way of eating is really all about. I’m with you–how you eat is none of my business.
–Jimmy
Don’t judge all vegans by the crazies. They should be held accountable for their actions.
HOWEVER, while Keith should absolutely be able to voice her story and opinions, I can’t say I feel too terribly sorry for her. I appreciate putting another view out there, but her way of doing so was asking for trouble. Besides the actual scientific facts, the content of her book is incredibly insulting to more than just the crazies. I honestly believe she wrote this book to make herself feel better about leaving the lifestyle.
That’s just my opinion, don’t take it too seriously. Enjoy life people
I thought about it and my comment above is a little cold in regards to Keith. She did not deserve to be attacked and I don’t think it’s acceptable behavior on the part of the three cowards. Maybe I’m wrong on my assumptions of her, as I have not read her book in it’s entirety. I think the most important lesson to be learned from this is that we should stop fighting with each other and actually engage in discussion for real progress.
And that’s precisely why Lierre Keith wrote her book, Trish. I do encourage you to read it.