Groucho jihad fails at NYU

Pie jihad, LOL.

I'm glad you weren't hit, Robert. Thanks for standing up and giving the message to those knuckleheads.

I'm glad you weren't hurt, Mr Spencer.

It's a good thing it wasn't a Palestinian pie.

You know, like Peter Griffin's Palestinian alarm clock. It hits the hour, and instead of buzzing, it shouts you-know-what and blows your house up. ;)

Seriously, though, it could have been worse. Much worse. Why was security so lax as to allow this?

Are you going to press charges?

Was an analysis made of the contents of the pies? If they were composed completely of whipped cream or meringue, then this incident may only have been have been a post-mortem commemoration of the recent passing of Soupy Sales and his enormous sidekick, Black Fang. If the filling was of other substances, such as lemon, banana, or chocolate pudding, then the assault could have more portentous and sinister implications, of course with a separate subtext for each type of filling. A filling of candied fruits such as cherries, berries, peach, or strawberries would certainly be a matter of more serious concern, especially if the pits had not been removed from the peaches. In the latter two cases, the cyanogens contained in the peach pits as well as phosphoric acid in the strawberries would warrant consideration of a charge of assault with a deadly weapon.

If the pie-filling was coconut cream, this might perhaps be the worst of all possibilities, if the coconut was unevenly shredded and small bits of coconut shell had been left in the filling to serve as shrapnel or merely to hamper the cleanup process. It goes without saying that there is possibly no projectile more damaging and demoralizing than the Improvised Pie Device (IPD).

I would caution Mr Spencer to be on his guard and to make future public-speaking engagements with particular attention to using the recently perfected Kevlar II Pie-Deflection Armour, now being distributed to our troops overseas in troubled areas of Muslim-Majority Conflict. This is no laughing matter.

It could mean greatly increased dry-cleaning bills.

"Seriously, though, it could have been worse. Much worse."

Any disturbance in a public setting, most acutely in one where the topic of Islam is being critically discussed, is reasonably to be feared as a potential terrorist attack whether concerted or of the sudden jihad lone wolf variety. And those perpetrating any such disturbance, no matter if it turns out to be harmless, should be charged with reckless endangerment at the very least.

This is no joke indeed. The security lapse is worrying. And the premeditation and planning by the thugs involved is double worrying.

Was this a dry run to see what happens?

Absolutely press charges and have the matter investigated fully

Besides the obvious that Jockaira is pompous ass, Mr. Spencer I would not take this lightly. Obviously, you know that Pym Fortun was not assassinated by a Muslim, rather he was brutally killed by a left-wing animal rights nutjob.

Press charges Mr. Spencer. Stop this madness before it escalates into something worse.

Appalling behavior from young adults. I am glad no one was hurt. Perhaps along with cultural sensitivity courses, they should be given lessons on public decorum and the Constitution with focus on the right to free speech.

I am not sure what the students are being taught school, but parents set the example for proper public behavior. This reflects badly on them as it does on their adult children.

Shame on one and all.

Not only is this not a joke, but in a well-ordered society, given the dangers reasonably understood, wouldn't the police have been justified in not hesitating at all, but shooting to wound, or even to kill? How are the police or security guards to know that what is being hurled is a pie, that the pie contains nothing toxic, that the pie is not a diversion for someone else's gun? If we did not have a long history, in this country and in other countries, of Muslim death threats, and the carrying out of such threats, then such a reaction might be considered an over-reaction.

Given the world today, it would not be, and those who disrupt such gatherings which attempt, in the mildest and most reasonable of ways, to present certain uncomfortable home truths, should be met with appropriate force. And "appropriate" force means "reasonable" force. And in circumstances such as this, when there is no time to carefully discern what exactly is being thrown, and every reason to fear or suspect, the worst, it is not unreasonable -- it is therefore "reasonable" -- to shoot such attackers rushing the stage. If such an attack were made, say, on Ayaan Hirsi Ali, would her contingent of Dutch bodyguards, trained in the use of deadly force, not be perfectly justified in not hesitating, not waiting to find out, but in using such force? And those who protect Geert Wilders?

Charges should be pressed, and a case made that will ensure the pie-throwers are themselves thrown out of decent society. A jail sentence might be just the ticket. A little time in Riker's can help change behavior, if not win hearts and minds, and the hearts and minds of those who threw those pies are impervious to reason and decency. So forget about that. Just change their behavior. And mkae the punishment sufficient to give others pause.

Would those setting out, before an audience in, say, New York, in 1942, the ideology of the Nazis, in 1942, that is once the war had begun, been attacked, what wouuld the government have done to the attackers? But, you will say, we are "not at war." Oh yes we are. The Jihad war has begun in earnest, and along with the many thousands of terrorist attacks by Muslims recorded just since 9/11/2001, the other instruments, even more effective than those acts of terrorism, of Jihad include deployment of the Money Weapon (and the propaganda it can buy), campaigns of Da'wa, and demographic conquest.

Those who attempt to shut down or intimidate, not rabble-rousers, but all those who try to elucidate matters by quite reasonably bringing to the public's attention the texts and tenets of Islam that explain the acts, and the attitudes, of many Muslims that cannot be changed unless Islam itself were to be changed, or the Qur'an cease to be regarded as the uncreated, literal Word of God, should be heard. For what they are attempting to make clear is that those texts, those tenets, explain Muslim behavior, including the behavior of those murderous smilers in that novemdectet, acting -- as Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Ibn Warraq, Wafa Sultan, Magdi Allam, and all the other defectors from the Army of Islam well know and have explained and explained -- according to, and not in opposition to, the texts, the tenets, the attitudes, the atmospherics of Islam. Not all Muslims take Islam fully to heart. Some, fortunately, are lapsed or indifferent or bad Muslims. But those who take their Islam straight up, instead of on the rocks, need to be understood. We won't have what the Muslim boys in the back room are having; we just need to know exactly what is in their drink. And that is an effort that recent events at Fort Hood make clear, many of us, and many of those who rule over us or are supposed to instruct or defend us, have not yet done. But they will.

Civilians never shoot to kill or injure, but SHOOT TO STOP.

Glad you're OK Mr. Spencer. Charges should DEFINITELY be filed, if for no other reason than to bring media attention to the crime, while simultaneously making Infidels aware of you and this site.

Like George Bush, I suspect you have deceptively-fast, lightning-like reflexes.
Jew Lover

Thank God you weren't hurt. We all continue to pray for your safety. Please, be cautious and vigilant!
And yes, lay charges.

Were these youths identified? Are they just jaded liberal youths or are they muslim students taking advantage of American largess? A two month stint cleaning Penn Station bathrooms might stymie their enthusiasm.

As someone pointed out before me, Pim Fortuyn was murdered by an extreme leftist after a long process of 'demonisation' in our media. These people can be quite dangerous as well, in a climate where those who oppose islam are portrayed as racists, or possibly the next Hitler.

Robert Spencer, perhaps it would be a novel idea to organise a conference in which you invite your opponents for a series of Q&A, or a debate, instead of these conferences where the majority are already enlightened minds. Then record the whole event and put it on the internet.

It proves those prone to attack will plan to attack...just look at the followers of the peaceful religion of Islam...

what a waste of pie if it was good im glad Robert was ok and i guess that they did not use pie ala mode is a good thing since if they had frozen the ice cream with liquid nitrogen that could of hurt , but maybe the pie throwers should do a few months of community service in a homeless shelter making pork pies for the homeless

Off-topic, but this site is very informative:

http://www.historyofjihad.org/persia.html

I've never met a pie I didn't like.

Robert, did you finish the speech or did this whole event interupt your train of thought?

They, the Islamists and the Leftards will never stop in the quest to quash freedom of speech.
This is a sorry incident and should not go unpunished.
What if those pies were filled with..._________???

I would like to second the comments above; that is, those who take this threat seriously and commend the courage of the speakers.

I also have a serious suggestion.

We should consider instigating the issue of a new medal, to be awarded to all those civilians, like Mr Spencer, who risk their own safety for the noble cause of opposing PC/MC passivity and actively opposing the multi-faceted threat of Islamic Jihad.
It could be named the 'FAITH' medal:- ie Fighter Against Insidious Terror and Hatred.

Instead of a medal, how about this: the American government, and state and local governments, assume the cost for protecting those who speak in public in a purely pedagogic effort to inform people -- truthfully -- about the contents of the texts, and the tenets, of Islam. These people, or the organizations sponsoring them, incur unusually high expenses for security and it is not just that they should have to bear those costs themselves. It should be obvious that an attempt is being made to limit the amount, even to end entirely, of public discussion of Islam other than the usual "three abrahamic faiths" treacle. Think too of Jyttens-Posten and its expenses for security, which should have been assumed -- have they? -- by the Danish state.

This problem is world-wide. Perhaps the most farseeing members of Congress should take up this matter, and press for special appropriations for such costs now borne by private parties. It's past time.

Mr. Spencer,

This incident has me furious! EVERY MEMBER of that audience should have been outraged and went after these lunitics - - - not just campus security.

How could nobody notice a bunch of people carrying pies into an auditorium? Don't people get "screened" at these speaking events? They should.

On a flip, we need to use the lefist laws against them . . . Go after them FULL FORCE with A HATE CRIME!

Dear Robert,

A warning message from Amsterdam. Just a few weeks before Pim Fortuyn was murdered, two young women hit him, during a press conference, with pies (filled with chicken shit). So, throwing pies may be a first step in a process that may get worse.
Stay alive, be careful.
"Mokum", my nick-name, was the name the former jewish/jiddish residents gave to their beloved city Amsterdam. As a child I lived through the "Bezetting", the occupation of Holland. I know what "occupation" by an evil power means.
If necessary I'll comment on things happening in Holland or Amsterdam in particular.
I support Geert Wilders, although I differ with him on some of his political issues. Intellectually and qua character he's not a new Winston Churchill, but still his courage and insights in the problems we face are of great value.
Be careful, Robert.

Erik Mokum

It's a good thing you still know how to jump...Don't lose that, you may need it later...This was a crime...maybe a hate crime, obviously preplanned...The police 'should' be on top of this one...I wonder if the security guards took any names?

I remember going to hear Natan Sharansky- in perhaps 04' or 05', with him speaking at Rutgers U in NJ. I was sick as a dog, having the flu but I heard shouts of ugliness around the internet sites and how 'they' were going to get Sharansky etc etc. So I'm a bit bigger, if a little long in the tooth. So I wore a long leather coat and no weapons, but I was surprised at the lack of security searching bags or anything like that.

Interestingly, Sharansky had the first two rows roped off for his antagonists- the arabs, the muslims, the marxists et al, and they were to be right up front and the first to get to the audience microphones.

Suddenly a guy in an old army coat rushes up with a pie and nails Sharansky. I'm amazed at the Israeli security and how fast they took the guy down, with no injuries and got him out. The next day- the marxist guy- liar that he was, said his nose had been smashed by the guards, but I saw the whole thing.... not a scratch.

Anyway, Sharansky is calm as can be, even with a full face of pie- waves at the crowd and he's pulled off the stage to clean up, which he does rapidly, comes back out and announces that the talk will now continue, and he cracks wisely...'I don't know if that was a kosher pie' and all the leftists and muslims and arabs with keffiyas around their necks are up front and Sharansky begins. His speech is soft, thorough, covering all the issues and before he's finished, all the two rows of jew haters, arabs, muslims, marxists have emptied out of the hall. Not in any theatric display but rather because all their illogical protests were comprehensively reviewed by him, and then they were vanished.

I can only add what I think is an appropriate reply if you get pied by the ugly tyannical left and muslims at a talk: 'Well as Grouch Marx, the only marxist worth remembering
in this world, once said, 'there ain't no sanity clause'... and with such fascists as those who've just 'pied me', it is the truth, and nothing but the truth'

Sure enough, Hugh points out the need for publicly funded security at these events. Absolutely right, and of far more practical use than medals. Maybe the time for those is not yet.

I hope the Pihadists were arrested.

Thank Allah you have nimble feet, O Dancing Bear. I will fatwa these perps as soon as I can find my pen.

- Abdullah Bhullah, the wacky mullah

I am anxiously waiting to see this incident reproted in the main-stream media. Oh, what was I thinking? It seems that if you disagree with a liberal college mob these days you are at risk. I thought Liberals were open minded and accepting of diverse peoples and views.

Dear Mr. Spencer,

Please accept my continued prayers for your safety. Along with everyone else here, I take this very seriously and I want you to grow to be very old and even more wise. And on a lighter note, should it not be considered that these attackers simply do not truly understand Islam? Is it not widely known that the Ayatollah has informed us? "There is no fun in Islam!"

Wonderin1

I'm shocked and saddened that you and your co-speaker had to encounter such idiocy. However, it does add more fuel to the fire of your truth-filled discourse.

Were they Muslims, the "distracting guy" and the 2 pie-throwers? Or Apologists?

That was scary. And infuriating. Like other commenters, my first thought was also "what if those weren't morons with pies?"

I hope that this much good can come out of it: better security and a refresher in tactics for security providers.

Argh.

Today it is pies. Tomorrow it will likely be pies again, but how long before it is a noxious or corrosive chemical? The TTPs will be the same, but the weapon will evolve. Time for patriots to stand up and defend ourselves. Should you have an engagement at Towson University and want some discrete people at the doors contact me. I and several Patriots will be there.

Another fine example of institutionalized liberalism, wholly inbred in most "higher education" "learning" facilities.

Luckily, Mr. Spencer and the other panelist were not hurt, but this incident is nothing less than disgraceful, albeit typical.

I wonder what the NYU, MSA has to say about all this?

Dear Robert,

thank G*d they only threw pies which could be hilarious like in the movies but even things like that aren't funny any more. It's the lurking fear that paralyses all of us. Things changed dramatically in the course of the last years. Thanks a lot for your courage, you're an intrepid freedom fighter.

Take care

I second what the other commenters have said and am glad that you and the other speaker were not injured. Take care and be careful.

To get "publicly funded" bodyguards, one would be paying for and hopefully getting well-paid men and women with Secret Service-type training. The smallest team would probably be three people:

~ Personal security officer: the in-close bodyguard

~ Advance man: checks out all venues in advance and is on-scene before principal arrives w/PSO

~ Driver: not just a limo driver with a nice beard. A trained bodyguard... and that will include evasive/attack driving skills.

If you don't get the high-end publicly-funded team, and you will not get it, you get the low end team: a campus security chief who assures you everything is alright just because he says so.

There are a few private companies who provide pretty good protection but they're hard to find.

As a former bodyguard, and being aware of the threats you face daily, Robert, I would recommend you try to put together a good protective team. If finances are an issue, then you can have volunteers in all parts of the country who can be trained and come together as a team when you visit their area. Robert, you know where I am. Ring me up if you head this way.

It really is pathetic that these so-called smart students are so devoid of intellectual abilities that they literally can not discuss the problem of Islam. Their minds are shut down (though this is hardly the only issue for which that is the case for them) and they aren't even Muslims. If it is this difficult to discuss Islam in America, imagine how quite literally impossible it is where there is a majority of Muslims in the population. Anyone hoping for "reform" from the so-called Islamic world truly is deluded. It simply cannot happen, it will never happen. Or if one wants to hold out hope, perhaps in 1,000 years it will happen, but there is zero chance of any meaningful change or reform in any time frame remotely close enough to today to make any difference whatsoever in the fact that Islam can not be allowed to spread in the West or it will destroy democracy and freedom.

What a laff riot! Or not.

As many posters have noted, no one had any way of being sure, initially, that these were just pies.

But one of the purposes of a "pieing" is to first assault the victim—and then to make him look foolish. (I've never quite understood how a person is supposed to be humiliated by the actions of another, but this is the clear intent)

If a victim gets either reacts as though it were a "real attack" (which it is) by screaming, jumping behind their podium, running off the stage, etc. they will be considered objects of derision—because, after all, it was "only a pie".

The victim then either has to leave the stage—either to cancel the event, or to clean up—both of which are seen as a victory for the pie thrower.

The other alternative is to continue the speech splattered in pie, which is then held by many—for some incomprehensible reason—to render anything the victim says, no matter how perceptive or erudite—absurd.

If the victim takes the attack seriously in the aftermath, then he can be accused of "lacking a sense of humor".

If, as poster M. Goldberg above notes in his account of the Natan Sharansky speech at Rutgers, security takes the threat seriously, the assailant can always claim that they were the victims of some sort of "police brutality".

I attended UC Berkeley, site of all too many rudely disrupted speeches, and have seen this sort of thing all too often.

I must admit that I once threw a drink at someone when I was a young and tormented leftist. I have since matured.
My victim was another leftist but my crime is still a crime.
Security must be stepped up some way. That is not my field.
Keep up your great work and God bless you.

David Horowitz once spoke at a university when a pie was thrown at him. He related this story on a Foxnews debate with the liberal Alan Colmes.

Colmes laughed the whole thing off as a harmless prank. David pointed out he wears glasses and could have been injured. Colmes was unmoved.

Does someone have to be injured before we start taking this kind of delinquency seriously?

this is very worrying and and could indicate an unholy alliance between clowns and islamic supremacists..its no trifling matter and i hope this maniac was taken into custardy ,,,,so sorry

Not meaning to be presumptuous but I'm not the kind to chat it up when there is something I can do about a situation. So, let me know what you think of this:

Those of you who want to be trained in the basics of protective services details (PSD) let me know at my email address: freemendo@hotmail.com.

Here's what you have to do to get the training:

* Come to where I am for a long weekend ~ Friday morning through Sunday afternoon.

* Pay for your round-trip flight, lodging and meals.

* Pay me a couple hundred bucks to cover range fees, gun rental, ammo, gas, training material, etc.

* Once you get back from where you came, get properly licensed as a bodyguard, and get a concealed weapons permit if your state permits such.

* Practice frequently all you've been taught so if Robert or one of his associates requests a PSD, I can contact you. Then you and others in your area can do your duty, as it were.

Part of my CV: http://freemendo.typepad.com/undaunted/Unerschrocken.html

this is very worrying and and could indicate an unholy alliance between clowns and islamic supremacists..its no trifling matter and i hope this maniac was taken into custardy ,,,,so sorry

I agree completely with Hugh above. I don't know why I minced words about the pies in my previous post, particularly since my latest blog essay deals rather directly with this: Yelling "Allahu Akbar" in a Crowded Theater.

Anyone who does something like this in a public place, especially where Islam is being discussed critically, should be handled immediately with deadly force -- of course primarily to "stop" them, but one does not (unless one is General McChrystal, that is), in a split-second where many lives could be at stake, sacrifice the lives of potential victims for the preservation of the lives of the potential attackers.

Excellent post at your blog, Hesperado.

This kind of intimidation is nothing new. Though it makes me angry, I'm not suprised. College campuses were used in this way in the 1960's. The main thing is to just keep going and not be deterred by it. Hire security, carry a pepper spray gun and do what ever it takes to keep right on speaking the truth. Liars hate truth. This is kind of a war, and wars tend to be won by the last man standing. Keep standing, Mr. Spencer.

This is asymmetric warfare.

Histrionics, diversion, violence: Each and every one of these a weapon in its own right in the jihad against Western values but used here in concert in an attempt to suppress free and open discussion, to intimidate those who don't follow the party line.

Although I am most certainly not a fan of ex-President Bush, he had one thing right: This is a war like no other. This war requires a mobilization of public thought against the lethargy or (G*d forbid) the wishes of the people's own government. Not only are most folks ill-informed on the issues raised on web sites such as this, they are equally or even less informed on the attempts to stifle free speech here.

Mr. Spencer's books are a necessary part of the defense of our civilization but are incapable in and of themselves to end this threat. to do that requires vigorous and active public participation, meaning getting out of the house and everyday routines. To hold our public servants to account. Do you know how many mosques are in your area? Do you know how many building permits there are for new mosques? Are there public meetings for new consruction?

When you attend such meetings, be prepared for histrionics...and watch your back. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.

That would be, 'Good piece on the vicious use of "Allah Akbar!"' I miss the edit function.

Glad to know you're safe, Robert. It is sad that what in more innocent times would be considered a harmless prank can now carry such ominous overtones.

But you should seriously consider pressing charges against both the perpetrators for their actions, AND against NYU for (a) tolerating a culture of on-campus, Leftist inspired hate, and (b) failing to provide security for its invited speakers. Doing so would get their attention in the only way they will understand and respond to, as well as to challenge their smug presumption that THEY define and control the narrative of hate, and are immune from the consequences of their actions.

Don't let them off the hook, Robert, especially the administration. The students will probably eventually grow up, after they leave school, but those who have constructed the environment where this kind of behavior is tolerated need to be brought to account.

So glad no-one was injured. I'm in agreement with other commenters - press charges!

Notice that it is never leftists or Islamic thugs (e.g., (Ahmahdinejad speaking at Columbia University) who have to endure this garbage when they speak in some public forum. No, only for those on the right or with some kind of message which is deemed conservative will these attempts to silence free speech occur. Leftism and Islam are made for each other respecting their being enemies of the First Amendment.

And what useful idiots these pie throwers and shouters are. Self-righteous fools all around. I imagine their being convinced of their rectitude would reach insufferable limits.

I've never understood the pie thing either, seems like a waste of a perfectly good pie to me...

Seriously, I'd press charges. Don't let these idiots get away with it, it is an assault. I, like the other posters, am happy it was a pie and that you weren't injured, Robert. I would urge you to get some bodyguards asap, it certainly wouldn't be a bad thing.

I'm intrigued by undaunted's long weekend...anyone else? Maybe we could hold a kind of "convention" and at the same time actually learn some good lessons?

All college professors must teach
Respect for the right of free speech.
To throw pie at a guest
Non gustibus est;
Not banana cream, chocolate or peach.

Wellington brought up an excellent observation with

Notice that it is never leftists or Islamic thugs (e.g., (Ahmahdinejad speaking at Columbia University) who have to endure this garbage when they speak in some public forum.

Granted, security detail for a head-of-state would be enhanced. None the less, the security detail at NYU was set up to make them look like the keystone cops. This is a serious breech in NYU security protocol, and it must be addressed immediately. Not only should the disruptive members of the audience be charged legally - they should also be charged financially for all clean up costs (dry cleaning of suits and stage curtains, floor cleaning, polishing, podium cleaning, cleaning of electronic wires and mics etc.), they should also be billed for any updated security training costs necessary to address this breech. in addition, they should be mandated into community service for about 100 hours. The penalty should be punitive to drive the definition of civil discourse deep into the perpetrators wallet.

I can't speak for specifics of the New York penal Code, but in California this pie attack can definitely be grounds for an arrest as it is defined as a "physical assault on a person" (242 PC), let alone the add on charge that should go with it because it defines what occurred in the incident and that is a charge of "disturbing the peace".

By making these arrests of these perpetrators on this assault, it gives law enforcement a tool to evaluate in their report as to why these perpetrating suspects took the action they did. An arrest can hopefully forward an investigation of the suspects to see if any red flags can be raised in regards to their assaults on Robert Spencer and Elan Journo.

Imagine if this where a shoe attack such as the one against President Bush in Iraq and America had thrown out the constitution in favor of sharia against these leftwing loons who probably still have their mothers make their beds and remind them to brush their teeth everyday.

Unfortunately there was probably no effort made by security officials in this important legal arena which quite frankly is a travesty in my opinion.

If anyone wants to know where the West is headed, then this episode is the prime example. Remember that those oafs who threw pies at Robert Spencer are the politicians, teachers, lawyers and other 'professionals' of tomorrow. But, unfortunately, tomorrow comes, and with it the time of these blockheaded enablers of the Jihad. This is the reason the West as we know or knew it, is living on borrowed time, with perhaps, a future of less than a century. Gone are the days when the university was the seat of learning. Over the years, it has become a cancer cell that has injected its poison of political correctness and this sort of hoodlum behavior into our institutions. Our immune system to the Jihad has been overwhelmed by this toxin spread from the universities. It is no accident that the greatest statesman the West has ever seen - Sir Winston Churchill - never went to university. His education was completed in the university of hard knocks in the Sudan and on India's Northwest Frontier - present day Waziristan in Pakistan. Today, this man who warned us about Hitler and got ridiculed by similar fools, then was proved right by events, would be branded a bigot and hatemonger were he still alive, indeed many ungrateful mental midgets the West produces in profusion call him a bigot and hatemonger now, a full 45 years after his death, because he called out Islam in The River War.

I'll go into detail with those who write me, not here.

Really pleased that you are OK Robert.

The risk with bringing charges is that the media will side with the attackers, who were after all just "harmless students having a bit of fun", whereas you will be an "extreme right wing Islamophobe", etc, without a sense of humour. But this could well be a dry run for something more serious as others have suggested, and I think charges should be brought.

Clearly this was coordinated between the disrupter in the room, the two attackers outside it, and the mobile phone cameraman. Surely there must be some sort of serious charge involving "assault", and "conspiracy", that all four could be charged with?

OT: Has anyone ever written a letter to the Sunday Times (UK) and got back an e-mail asking for your full name and phone number because they want to publish the letter? Do they mean in the physical paper itself? Yaeh, I am paranoid.

Paul:

Good points to ponder: Even if an assault charge is leveled against the suspects, because it was an orchestrated attack. It than rises to a conspiracy which even if the assault charge is deemed a misdemeanor by either officer making the arrest, the additional charge of conspiracy automatically must rise to a felony charge on the arrest report even though the local prosecutor would more than likely would tone it down considerably if it saw the light of day in court.

Could just as easily been fragmentation grenades.

Better re-examine your personal security.

I think that if some of these Universities start getting lawsuits flying in their direction they will take their hate speech from their students a little more seriously. Hate speech in the form of pie throwing, or antisemitic remarks, is not acceptable and it is not 'free' speech.

Small correction to the above:

"...there *will* be those among them [Mohammedans in the West] who may be quite prepared to hunt down and harass or even kill (a la Theo Van Gogh) any person who has consistently voiced in public - say, in letters to the editor of a particular newspaper - critique of the teachings and practice of Islam. And there may be those [Mohammedans] who, though not actually game to do the harassing or killing themselves, will discreetly pass the names of the identified non-Muslim Troublemakers along to...someone else in the Ummah who will take care of business.

"In creating this diversion, a couple members of the audience ran up and threw pies at Mr. Spencer and another panelist."

The Socialist Watch account seems to suggest that the sweet tooth thugs were already armed with pies while seated in the audience. If so, how did they manage to get whipped cream covered pumpkin pies through a standard security check for guns, knives (and the like) at this events main entrance? What, don't most audience members bring pies to snack on during such events? And are pie bombs allah approved?

Seriously ...this is a major breech in security, and it could have been much worse. Very scary!

Thanks undaunted.

Champ, Robert's own account quoted on Atlas Shrugs is that they came in through a side door which had been guarded, but the guards left it to deal with the guy yelling in the middle of the room. Clearly coordinated, they obviously weren't just hanging around by the side door (carrying pies) on the off chance.

Wish I could have been in a position to tackle those guys hard before they got to the stage.

Thanks gravenimage, too. Wellington, you're undoubtedly right, and tragically it will take an unacceptable number of attacks in public places before that war cry is deemed to be a public menace (though I'd wager that at least a few cops, security guards and intelligence agents here and there will do what needs to be done in the meantime).

Given all the death threats Robert gets, I see a point in Hesperado's proposal about deadly force since any assailants, if not immediately stopped, might be carrying weapons of one sort or another and turn out to be lethal.

But it might be no more difficult, and far, far more politic, to take a different approach than the one suggested by Hesperado. I mean that instead one could simply take adequate preventive measures: doing what is necessary to make sure no guns or weapons are brought to a venue by anyone in the audience. Then bodyguards might not have as much to worry about and would not have to escalate to the most extreme level immediately.

But this event is a wake-up call to anyone who hadn't quite noticed the risks Robert Spencer takes on. Pies are not the problem.

Ideally, any place Spencer goes, he should know what his escape route will be under a few different scenarios. A couple of minutes of forethought and walking around any venue could make a difference...

Robert-

You should have pepper-sprayed them.

It gives them something to think~ and cough~ about.

If you don't carry it, start.

As Eric Mokum [above] mentioned, Pim Fortuym was hit with a "pie" filled with chicken crap.

It could as easily be tainted with salmonella or listeria.

Or worse.

Press charges, and ask the shcool to pay for a CSI analysis of the pie debris.

These anarchistic infants need to be made to sweat their idiocies.

And the security detail needs to wake up.

You never send your entire team in one direction, -dolts.

Keep safe. Wear Kevlar. Mock the fools.

Of course,if someone were to enter a mosque and throw a pie at the imam,there would be instant violent retaliation,followed by lawsuits,followed by protests,followed by the leftist enablers holding candlelight vigils and denuncing the "atrocity",followed by 24/7 media coverage of the "bigotry,hatred and racisim",followed by CAIR bitching endlessly,followed by demands for cash,land,vehicles,weapons,food,shelter....

etc.

Did I leave anything out?

Just a thought.

What would CAIR say and do if someone pied a Muslim speaker?

Would such an incident have made the headlines? Would BO get involved?

Would the MSM carry the story?

How do we get this behavior exposed? Mr. Spencer I hope there is video of the perps and the police arrest them.

Yes, sue NYU and whatever student organization the assailant belonged to.