{{Short description|Throwing milkshakes at people as protest}} {{EngvarB|date=May 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} [[File:Five Guys banana milkshake (40878734941).jpg|thumb|right|A milkshake served in a disposable container]]
'''Milkshaking''' is the act of throwing milkshakes and other drinks at targets as a means of political protest in a manner similar to egging or pieing. The target of a milkshaking is splashed or splattered with a milkshake that is thrown from a cup or bottle.<ref name="Atlantic">{{cite news |last=Serhan |first=Yasmeen |date=20 May 2019 |title=Why Protesters Keep Hurling Milkshakes at British Politicians |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2019/05/milkshaking-britain-political-trend-right-wing/589876/ |work=The Atlantic |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="Washington">{{cite news |last=Hassan |first=Jennifer |date=20 May 2019 |title=What is 'milkshaking?' Ask the Brits hurling drinks at right-wing candidates. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/05/20/what-is-milkshaking-ask-brits-hurling-drinks-right-wing-candidates/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> The trend gained momentum in the United Kingdom in May 2019 during the European Parliament election and was used against the far-right activist Tommy Robinson and right-wing political candidates such as Nigel Farage and Carl Benjamin, as well as other members of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the Brexit Party (now Reform UK).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/18/police-ask-mcdonalds-to-halt-milkshake-sales-during-farage-rally |title=Police ask McDonald's to halt milkshake sales during Farage rally |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=18 May 2019 |work=The Guardian|access-date=20 May 2019 }}</ref><ref name="Independent">{{cite news |last=Dadlton |first=Jane |date=19 May 2019 |title=Carl Benjamin: Milkshake thrown at Ukip candidate for fourth time this week |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/carl-benjamin-milkshake-salisbury-ukip-a8920846.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/carl-benjamin-milkshake-salisbury-ukip-a8920846.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Independent |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref>
== History == The practice and its use in targeting right-wing politicians is believed to have gained popularity following the egging of far-right, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim<ref>Far-right views: * {{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/video/2019/mar/16/far-right-australian-senator-fraser-anning-attacks-boy-after-being-egged-video|title=Far-right Australian senator Fraser Anning attacks boy after being egged by him – video|last=Network|first=Source: Nine News|date=16 March 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=15 April 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} * {{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/16/asia/australian-senator-fraser-anning-egg-incident/index.html|title=Far-right Australian lawmaker finds himself – literally – with egg on his face|author=Ray Sanchez|website=CNN|date=16 March 2019 |access-date=15 April 2019}} * {{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/03/15/right-wing-australian-senator-blames-immigration-new-zealand-mosque-attacks/|title=Right-wing Australian senator blames 'immigration' for New Zealand mosque attacks|newspaper=The Washington Post }}</ref><ref>anti-immigration views: * {{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/australian-senator-fraser-anning-condemned-for-contemptible-comments-on-christchurch-terror-attack|title=Australian Senator Fraser Anning condemned for 'contemptible' comments on Christchurch terror attack|last=Quinn|first=Liam|date=15 March 2019|access-date=15 March 2019|publisher=Fox News}} * {{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/03/15/right-wing-australian-senator-blames-immigration-new-zealand-mosque-attacks/|title=Right-wing Australian senator blames 'immigration' for New Zealand mosque attacks|last=Noack|first=Rick|date=15 March 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=15 March 2019}} * {{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/new-zealand-mosque-shooting-outrage-as-farright-australian-senator-fraser-anning-links-massacre-to-a4092421.html|title=Fraser Anning sparks outrage over New Zealand shooting remarks: Far-right Australian senator links mosque massacre to 'growing fears of Muslim presence'|last=Morris|first=James|date=15 March 2019|newspaper=Evening Standard|access-date=15 March 2019}}</ref> politician Fraser Anning in Australia by a teenager in March 2019, which was met with a violent response from Anning.<ref name="Washington"/> However, one of earliest known renditions of the practice took place on 30 September 2016 when Moldova's finance minister Octavian Armașu had a bucket of milk thrown at him by protestor Andrei Donică outside the Moldovan parliament in Chișinău.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moșneag |first=Victor |date=1 October 2016 |title=Cine este Octavian Armașu, ministrul Finanțelor stropit cu lapte de activistul Donică |url=https://www.zdg.md/stiri/politic/cine-este-octavian-armasu-ministrul-finantelor-stropit-cu-lapte-de-activistul-donica/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250701081218/https://www.zdg.md/stiri/politic/cine-este-octavian-armasu-ministrul-finantelor-stropit-cu-lapte-de-activistul-donica/ |archive-date=1 July 2025 |access-date=6 May 2020 |work=Ziarul de Gardă}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ciocan |first=Iulian |date=16 May 2018 |title=Ministrul Armașu, laptele, transparența |url=https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/ministrul-arma%C5%9Fu-laptele-transparen%C5%A3a/29225932.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250612121107/https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/ministrul-arma%C5%9Fu-laptele-transparen%C5%A3a/29225932.html |archive-date=12 June 2025 |access-date=6 May 2020 |work=Radio Europa Liberă |language=ro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Botnarenco |first=Iurii |date=27 September 2019 |title=Cine este Andrei Donică, candidatul la funcția de primar de Chișinău |url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-externe/republica-moldova/cine-este-andrei-donica-candidatul-la-functia-de-1973077.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250808075706/https://adevarul.ro/stiri-externe/republica-moldova/cine-este-andrei-donica-candidatul-la-functia-de-1973077.html |archive-date=8 August 2025 |access-date=6 May 2020 |website=Adevărul}}</ref>
In 2019, British far-right activist Tommy Robinson was "milkshaked", having one thrown as a projectile in Bury on 1 May 2019, and another thrown the following day in Warrington while campaigning.<ref name="theguardian1">{{cite news |last=Parveen |first=Nazia |date=2 May 2019 |title=Tommy Robinson doused in milkshake for the second time in two days |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/02/tommy-robinson-doused-in-milkshake-for-second-time-in-two-days |work=The Guardian |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> Robinson responded to the second incident by punching the milkshake thrower, who said he had thrown the dessert in response to harassment from Robinson and his supporters. Since the event, the thrower said he had received death threats on social media.<ref>{{cite news |last=Iqbal |first=Nosheen |date=5 May 2019 |title='I'm getting death threats,' says man who threw milkshake on Tommy Robinson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/05/death-threats-man-threw-milkshake-over-tommy-robinson |work=The Guardian |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> UKIP candidate Carl Benjamin was milkshaked four times that month while campaigning in Salisbury, Truro, and Totnes.<ref name="Independent" />
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage had a Five Guys milkshake thrown over him in Newcastle upon Tyne on 20 May 2019 by a 32-year-old Brexit opponent,<ref name="newyorktimes1">{{cite web |last1=Magra |first1=Iliana |title=Why Are Milkshakes Being Thrown at Right-Wing Politicians Like Nigel Farage? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/21/world/europe/milkshake-nigel-farage.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=30 June 2019 |date=21 May 2019}}</ref> who was arrested by police at the scene for common assault.<ref>{{cite news |date=20 May 2019 |title=Nigel Farage hit by milkshake during Newcastle walkabout |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-48339711 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> Farage later blamed the rise of milkshaking on "radicalised Remainers" and said that it disrupted campaigning.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yorke |first1=Harry |last2=Maidment |first2=Jack |date=20 May 2019 |title=Brexit latest news: Nigel Farage warns 'radicalised Remainers' are making campaigning 'impossible' after being hit by milkshake |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/05/20/brexit-latest-news-matt-hancock-warns-mps-have-one-last-chance/ |work=The Telegraph |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> A spoof JustGiving campaign was set up to crowdfund the purchase of a new suit for Farage following the milkshaking, while instead donating its proceeds to a cancer charity.<ref>{{cite news |last=Doughty |first=Sophie |date=20 May 2019 |title=Fundraising page to buy Nigel Farage a new suit after milkshake incident in Newcastle |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/fundraising-page-buy-nigel-farage-16305167 |work=Evening Chronicle |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> A few days later, Farage was reportedly trapped on his campaign bus after arriving in Kent to speak to supporters, as a group of people holding milkshakes watched nearby.<ref>{{cite news |last=Walker |first=Amy |date=22 May 2019 |title=Nigel Farage shelters on campaign bus to avoid milkshake attack |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/22/nigel-farage-shelters-on-campaign-bus-to-avoid-milkshake-attack |work=The Guardian |access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref> In June 2019, Farage's milkshaker pleaded guilty to common assault and criminal damage to Farage's microphone, and was given 150 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay {{currency|520|GBP}}.<ref name="gh">{{cite web |last1=Halliday |first1=Josh |title=Nigel Farage milkshake attacker ordered to pay Brexiter's suit-cleaning bill |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/18/nigel-farage-milkshake-attacker-pleads-guilty-to-common-assault |website=The Guardian |access-date=30 June 2019 |date=18 June 2019}}</ref> An online fundraiser raised more than £650 to cover this cost, within hours of sentencing.<ref name="gh"/>
A McDonald's restaurant in Edinburgh was asked by local police to stop selling the drink during Nigel Farage's campaign visit in May 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Picheta |first=Rob |date=19 May 2019 |title=Police stop McDonald's from selling milkshakes near Nigel Farage rally |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/18/uk/mcdonalds-nigel-farage-milkshakes-scli-gbr-intl/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> Burger King responded on Twitter by advertising its milkshakes in Scotland.<ref name="Washington"/> The act in general was criticised by several political commentators, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair, for being a gateway to political violence, while others argued it was harmless protesting.<ref name="Atlantic"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Magra |first=Iliana |date=21 May 2019 |title=Why Are Milkshakes Being Thrown at Right-Wing Politicians Like Nigel Farage? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/21/world/europe/milkshake-nigel-farage.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=23 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="Atlantic2">{{cite news |last=Kaszeta |first=Dan |date=27 May 2019 |title=Sometimes a Milkshake Is Just a Milkshake |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/05/milkshake-thrown-nigel-farage-nothing-new/590317/ |work=The Atlantic |access-date=28 May 2019}}</ref>
In anticipation of U.S. President Donald Trump's state visit to the United Kingdom in June 2019, the group "Milkshakes Against Racism" organised a gathering at Trafalgar Square to greet him with milkshakes as a symbol of protest.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dalton |first=Jane |date=1 June 2019 |title='Milkshakes against Trump' and giant cardboard wall to greet US president in one of UK's biggest-ever demonstrations |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/trump-uk-visit-protest-rally-london-coach-whitehall-portsmouth-queen-milkshake-a8935721.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/trump-uk-visit-protest-rally-london-coach-whitehall-portsmouth-queen-milkshake-a8935721.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Independent |access-date=1 June 2019}}</ref> A pro-Trump supporter was struck in the face by a milkshake during protests on 4 June.<ref>{{cite news |date=4 June 2019 |title=Trump fan hit with milkshake during protests |url=https://news.sky.com/video/trump-fan-hit-with-milkshake-during-protests-11734966 |work=Sky News |access-date=6 June 2019}}</ref>
U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz was reported to have been the first U.S. politician to be milkshaked, at a town hall event in Pensacola, Florida in June 2019, but the drink was later described as an unidentified "red liquid" by police.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Neil |first=Luke |date=3 June 2019 |title=Republican congressman hit by flying drink – but it wasn't quite a 'milkshaking' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/03/matt-gaetz-milkshaked-republican-florida |work=The Guardian |access-date=5 June 2019}}</ref>
Right-wing activist Andy Ngo was sprayed with Silly String by antifascists in Portland, Oregon on 30 June 2019, before also having a milkshake thrown at him. Portland police initially tweeted that they had received reports of a milkshake containing quick-drying cement,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Jason |title=Portland police clash with protesters and make 'cement milkshake' claim |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/30/portland-police-cement-milkshake-leftwing-rightwing-protests |website=The Guardian |access-date=30 June 2019 |date=30 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Antifa attack blogger Andy Ngo amid violence at Portland Proud Boys protest |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/antifa-attack-portland-andy-ngo-portland-proud-boys-alt-right-a8981331.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/antifa-attack-portland-andy-ngo-portland-proud-boys-alt-right-a8981331.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Independent |access-date=30 June 2019 |language=en |date=30 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rambaran |first1=Vandana |title=Antifa-Proud Boys confrontation in Portland turns violent; conservative writer injured |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/antifa-conservative-protests-turn-violent-as-demonstrators-throw-milkshakes-of-quick-dry-cement-at-police-and-onlookers |website=Fox News |access-date=30 June 2019 |date=29 June 2019}}</ref> which was widely transmitted although no proof of these claims was presented and the claim has been generally treated as a hoax.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zielinski |first1=Alex |title=Portland Police Offer No Proof That Protesters Had Milkshakes with "Quick-Dry Cement" |url=https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2019/06/30/26731412/portland-police-offer-no-proof-that-protesters-had-milkshakes-with-quick-dry-cement |website=Portland Mercury |access-date=1 July 2019 |date=1 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Goforth |first1=Claire |title=Portland milkshake dealer denies adding concrete to drinks to harm Proud Boys |url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/concrete-milkshake-hoax-portland-antifa/ |website=The Daily Dot |access-date=1 July 2019 |date=1 July 2019}}</ref><ref name=SnopesHoax>[https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/milkshakes-thrown-in-portland/ Did Milkshakes Thrown in Portland Protests Contain Cement?]. Snopes, 3 July 2019</ref> The Portland Police Bureau later said that the tweet had been made after an officer had observed a cement-like powder on at least one milkshake cup. This claim was investigated by ''Willamette Week'', which found that police had no physical evidence of any such thing occurring, and that no journalist had published any photo evidence or witness reports of such an activity.<ref name="ww">{{cite news |last1=Shepherd |first1=Katie |title=Portland Police Made a Dubious Claim About Protesters' Milkshakes on Twitter. What's the Evidence? |url=https://www.wweek.com/news/city/2019/07/02/portland-police-made-a-dubious-claim-about-protesters-milkshakes-on-twitter-whats-the-evidence/ |access-date=3 July 2019 |work=Willamette Week |date=2 July 2019}}</ref> Ngo sued three people for the attack, and received a $300,000 judgement after the defendants did not appear in court, resulting in a default ruling.<ref>{{cite news |date=21 August 2023 |title=Andy Ngo wins $300K from defendants who ignored lawsuit over Portland protest beating |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2023/08/andy-ngo-wins-300k-from-defendants-who-ignored-lawsuit-over-portland-protest-beating.html |work=The Oregonian |access-date=5 June 2024}}</ref>
On 27 September 2019, Justin Barrett, leader of the Irish far-right National Party, was milkshaked in Galway.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishpost.com/news/irish-far-right-national-party-politician-doused-milkshake-speech-galway-171897|title=Irish far-right National Party leader doused with milkshake during event in Galway|date=30 September 2019|access-date=17 November 2020|publisher=The Irish Post|first=Rachael|last=O'Connor}}</ref> In the wake of the incident, the student who threw the milkshake at Barrett reportedly received targeted abuse and threats from far-right extremists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/threats-against-student-who-threw-milkshake-at-far-right-leader-xht2rhdks|work=The Times|first=Ben|last=Haugh|date=1 October 2019|access-date=17 November 2020|title=Threats against student who threw milkshake at far-right leader}}</ref> In September 2020, a smoothie was thrown at the Irish Tánaiste Leo Varadkar by an unknown person. Varadkar remarked that he thought he was being approached by Avril Lavigne.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/19/woman-throws-drink-over-leo-varadkar-dublin-interview|work=The Guardian|first=Aaron|last=Walawalkar|date=19 September 2020|access-date=17 November 2020|title=Woman throws drink over Leo Varadkar as he gives Dublin interview}}</ref> The Irish Council for Civil Liberties voiced concern after it was revealed that the Garda Síochána were engaged in the profiling of left-wing activist women in an attempt to identify the assailant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://the-beacon.ie/2020/11/17/iccl-voices-concern-at-apparent-garda-profiling-in-smoothie-girl-investigation/|title=ICCL voices 'concern' at apparent garda profiling in 'Smoothie Girl' investigation|date=17 November 2020|access-date=17 November 2020|publisher=The Beacon}}<br>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-16 |title=ICCL letter on garda profiling of protesters |url=https://www.iccl.ie/iccl-letter-on-garda-profiling-of-protesters/ |access-date=2022-06-21 |website=Irish Council for Civil Liberties}}<br>{{Cite news |last=O'Rourke |first=Ryan |date=2020-11-17 |title=Rights group raises fears 'alternative lifestyle' women on garda watchlist |work=Irish Examiner |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40084160.html |access-date=2022-06-21}}<br>{{Cite news |last=Mooney |first=John |date=2020-11-08 |title=Leo Varadkar gives statement to gardai on smoothie criminal |work=The Sunday Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/leo-varadkar-gives-statement-to-gardai-on-smoothie-criminal-nbrjbms6s |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-06-21}}</ref>
In June 2024, whilst campaigning as Reform UK's candidate in the Clacton constituency for the 2024 general election Nigel Farage was hit with a McDonald's banana milkshake thrown by a 25-year-old woman who was later arrested.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-milkshake-clacton-reform-uk-b2556444.html|title=Nigel Farage has milkshake thrown over him after launching general election campaign|last=Ahmed |first=Jaded |date=4 June 2024 |website=independent.co.uk|access-date=4 June 2024}}</ref>
==Analysis and ethics== The wave of milkshaking incidents in 2019 prompted discussion in the media regarding the reasons for it being adopted as a protest tactic and whether or not it was ethically justifiable. Philosopher Benjamin Franks suggested that the use of particular foodstuffs in political protest had historically been a practical matter, noting that whilst "nowadays, carrying raw eggs to a nationalist meeting would require some backstory to justify it if challenged by the police", until recently carrying a milkshake would not have aroused the same suspicion. He also argued that milkshaking "is clearly effective in making the victim feel uncomfortable and look ridiculous".<ref name=ns />
Ivan Gololobov, a politics academic at the University of Bath, highlighted the importance of "online follow-up" to modern protest politics, observing that milkshaking someone who was attempting to portray themselves as a serious and credible political figure was an effective way of undercutting their image.<ref name=ns>{{cite web |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2019/05/lactose-against-intolerance-how-milkshake-became-tool-protest |title="Lactose Against Intolerance!" How milkshake became a tool of protest |last=Chakelian |first=Anoosh |date=16 May 2019 |website=New Statesman |access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref> Writing for ''Vice'', Jazmine Sleman suggested that milkshaking was a form of dilemma action which created "a lose-lose situation for the opposition... because there's no good way to respond to a milkshaking".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/milkshake-meme-ukip-farage-eu-elections/ |title=Dry Cleaners Explain How to Make a Milkshake Literally Destroy Your Clothes |last=Sleman |first=Jazmine |date=21 May 2019 |website=vice.com|access-date= 8 June 2019}}</ref> ''The New Republic''{{'}}s Matt Ford said that milkshaking was effective against far right leaders due to its potential for humiliating them: "nothing animates the far right or shapes its worldview quite so much as the desire to humiliate others—and the fear of being humiliated themselves".<ref name=tnr>{{cite magazine |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/153959/milkshaking-nigel-farage-effective |title=Why Milkshaking Works |last=Ford |first=Matt |date=21 May 2019 |magazine=The New Republic|access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref>
Regarding the milkshaking of Farage, Liberal Democrat Tim Farron tweeted that "Violence and intimidation are wrong no matter who they're aimed at. On top of that, it just makes the man a martyr, it's playing into his hands".<ref name=tnr /> Writing for ''The Independent'', Kate Townshend said that whilst she was opposed to far right politics, "on the one hand, nobody should have to walk around in fear of having things thrown at them, but on the other, a temporarily milky face is also just not a satisfying redress".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/nigel-farage-milkshake-newcastle-brexit-party-assault-tommy-robinson-a8923366.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/nigel-farage-milkshake-newcastle-brexit-party-assault-tommy-robinson-a8923366.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=I can't stand Nigel Farage – but even I wouldn't throw a milkshake at him |last=Townshend |first=Kate |date=21 May 2019 |website= The Independent|access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref> Josh Marshall wrote for ''Talking Points Memo'' that whilst he understood why the tactic had caught on, he disagreed with the practice, partly because he "wouldn't find it funny at all" if far right protestors milkshaked or pied liberal politicians, but also because "we place a great deal of societal importance on creating a line between words and physical autonomy... It's an impulse we shouldn't set aside simply because we find someone loathsome".<ref name=tpm>{{cite web |url=https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-few-thoughts-about-milkshaking |title=A Few Thoughts About Milkshaking |last=Marshall |first=Josh |author-link=Josh Marshall |date=3 June 2019|website=Talking Points Memo|access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref> Ricky Gervais tweeted that whilst he was pro-Remain, he was opposed to throwing items at people he disagreed with: "that would mean I had run out of good arguments. It would also mean I deserve a smack in the mouth".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.joe.co.uk/entertainment/ricky-gervais-nigel-farage-milkshake-232743 |title=Ricky Gervais says people milkshaking politicians 'deserve a smack in the mouth' |last=Dugmore |first=Oli |website=joe.co.uk|date=23 May 2019 |access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref>
Brendan Cox, the widower of the murdered anti-Brexit Labour MP Jo Cox, said that whilst he opposed Farage's politics, he believed that throwing objects at political opponents "normalises violence and intimidation and we should consistently stand against it".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/in-the-news/gaby-hinsliff-nigel-farage-brexit-milkshake/|title=Gaby Hinsliff: Why 'milkshaking' might not be so funny after all |last=Hinsliff |first=Gaby|author-link=Gaby Hinsliff|date=23 May 2019 |website=Grazia Daily |access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref>
Some observers took issue with the characterisation of milkshaking as an act of violence. Writing for the ''New Statesman'', Jonn Elledge argued that "it is far less violent than, say, promising to 'pick up a rifle' if Brexit is not delivered", as Farage had done in 2017, and that "the idea that throwing a milkshake is violence, but that inciting hate against minority groups isn't, is responsible for a decent-sized chunk of all the world's political problems".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/2019/05/no-throwing-milkshake-someone-not-act-political-violence |title=No, throwing milkshake at someone is not an act of political violence |last=Elledge |first=Jonn |date=21 May 2019 |website=New Statesman |access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref> Alexander Blanchard, a researcher at Queen Mary University of London, argued that milkshaking did not constitute violence, as "by nearly all accounts, political violence entails intentionally inflicting harm", whereas according to those involved in milkshaking, they at most aimed to humiliate their targets. He also highlighted the history of using "small and harmless projectiles" like eggs to being a sense of theatricality to political campaigning in Britain, holding that acts of milkshaking did not exceed this level of controversy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/is-throwing-a-milkshake-an-act-of-political-violence-what-political-theory-tells-us-117627 |title=Is throwing a milkshake an act of political violence? What political theory tells us |last=Blanchard |first=Alexander |date=24 May 2019 |website=The Conversation |access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref>
Dan Kaszeta, a London-based security consultant who previously worked for the White House Military Office and the United States Secret Service, took issue with Sam Harris' claim that milkshakings were "mock assassinations", stating: "Acts of political protest happen. Acts of political violence happen. There is some overlap between the two. But throwing a milkshake, while fundamentally inappropriate, uncivil, and possibly criminal... isn't the same thing as throwing a brick or shooting a rifle".<ref name="Atlantic2"/> Similarly, after Robinson was milkshaked, Conservative MP Johnny Mercer stated that "this is not political violence... It is a milkshake".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/21/uk/milkshake-analysis-mcgee-intl-gbr/index.html |title=Right-wing British politicians are having milkshakes thrown over them. Here's why |last=McGee |first=Luke |date=22 May 2019 |publisher=CNN |access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref> Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the journalist who threw his shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush, said, "Not many people are prepared to be jailed or tortured or face consequences for those types of actions" but did not consider milkshaking violent.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schatz |first1=Bryan |title=The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at George W. Bush has thoughts about milkshaking |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/06/the-iraqi-journalist-who-threw-his-shoes-at-george-w-bush-has-thoughts-about-milkshaking/ |website=Mother Jones |access-date=30 June 2019 |date=21 June 2019}}</ref>
==See also== * {{annotated link|Egging}} * {{annotated link|Flour bomb}} * {{annotated link|Pieing}} * {{annotated link|Zelyonka attack|''Zelyonka'' attack}}
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Protest tactics Category:Activism by type Category:2019 in the United Kingdom Category:2019 European Parliament election Category:Assault