I was concerned to read about a group of vegan animal rights protesters entering a Melbourne steakhouse, chanting and protesting at diners, with some feeling emotional and very upset.

People can visit: http://www.pedestrian.tv/news/vegans-protest-melbourne-steakhouse/ to read more about the story and see a recording of the protesters in action.

Personally, as a vegetarian I feel this case violates a key principle of being a animal - the right to eat what you want.

On the other hand, should we be restricting a basic right to protest on an issue one feels very strongly about?

Wouldn't it be wonderful if these clowns went a protested at Tooronga park zoo lions eating meat, in the lions enclosure at feeding time. Should get them some exposure on the evening news.

I don't believe that that have the "basic right to protest" by entering a restaurant, which is private property. What a bunch of turds.

"Police say the protestors left peacefully, and there were neither injuries nor arrests."

Well there is a missed opportunity. If they try to pull that sort of crap anywhere I'm trying to enjoy a meal, I may be startled and accidentally stab them with a fork. Purely a reflex action, of course...

I agree, Nathan,

I am also vegetarian and this is disgusting and shameful.
Pity they were not arrested and charged with trespassing and other offences.

No, protesting is not a basic right.

Having the awareness to become vegetarian is a rare gift and an honour.
Not everyone had attained this gift yet and as those vegan protesters abuse theirs, they might in their next lifetime have to be born as lions.

Dear Nathan,

While I'm all for peaceful protesting - I read your link
on this particular incident and the scenes described in
the restaurant were definitely not "cool." These "in-your-
face" actions would not have won these vegans much support
at all. Bad move on their part. It would have angered many
people there and turned them off vegans alltogether.

Protests can make history - as we know - however this
particular event sounds like it was badly organised, and
childish - and would have angered many people. Not well
thought out.

Possibly that was a counter protest in response to a group of carnivores that invaded Giuseppe's Fruit Barn in Moonee Ponds on the same day. Police said that after hurling cabbages, caulies and assorted fruits and vegies in all directions, the protesters mostly disgruntled cats and dogs left peacefully when the council ranger arrived with his net and cage.
A spokesdog for the group who would only identify himself as "Rover" barked to our reporter that the group was protesting the high price of Pal and kitty Kat in the supermarket. With the horrendous rate of unemployment among K9's and cats 99.9%, Rover said its a dogs life trying to survive on table scraps, and what you can find in the neighbours dirt bin on garbage nights. He went on to say "how would you humans feel if you had to rely on the generosity of dogs and cats to survive.

I guess we always have radicals demonstrating against one issue or another, but to do so in a restaurant while others are in the process of enjoying their evening meal, I reckon it's the limit. I note the premises are in Melbourne, and from what I've heard of VICPOL's sympathetic and benevolent policing strategy lately, I'm not at all surprised. Word has it their Chief Commissioner is right out of his depth, with the Andrews Labour government controlling the policing tiller.

I am surprised the proprietor of the place, didn't immediately make a complaint to the attending Bobbies, thus forcing them to remove these insolent activists forthwith. I'm all for the democratic right of our citizens, to hold peaceful demonstrations; but I'm equally disposed to the rule of law as well.

Gee I'm very glad I'm no longer wearing blue. The frustration occasioned by our 'left leaning' superiors, together with this rise of civil disobedience, it would become harder and harder, to deliver adequate law n' order measures, that would go in anyway of satisfying our community masters?

Vegans can protest if they want, however, if they do so on private property and then refuse to leave the owner's premises once requested, they are committing criminal trespass.

It seem that these nutters are inspired by American nutters who told these idiots to arrange for advertisements against "speciesism", and asking people to "Be Fair Be Vegan".

Melbourne Tramways agreed to put the ads on trams, but then changed their minds and said no to the ads.

Said nutters spat the dummy and took out their nuttiness on meat eaters.

Our rate of nutters per capita must be up there among the world's nuttiest.

and they say the evolution fantasy taught to kids is harmless. Anyone silly enough to believe we evolved from monkeys should be banned from cannibalism.

"...Anyone silly enough to believe we evolved from monkeys should be banned from cannibalism."

Does anyone believe that we evolved from monkeys?

' Does anyone believe that we evolved from monkeys?'

with the ever changing textbooks, frauds and deletions who knows. It like trying to track the true beliefs of warmist. Itn is made up to fit the narrative.

If we are descended from monkeys, we seem to have gone backwards. The monkeys are probably offended by the idea.

//Anyone silly enough to believe we evolved from monkeys should be banned from cannibalism.//

But those who believe in Young Earth Creationism should be allowed to eat as many people as they want? O... kay.

Whatever floats your boat, weirdo.

Tha article says: "We Must Protest Restrictions On Our Right To Protest"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/emily-howie/we-must-protest-restrictions-on-our-right-to-protest_a_21662128/

Some people may consider that reasonable. I do not.

Many in Australia, take the view they have a right to have whatever they want, in any shape or form. The considerations of others are often put last, even in ways people have not thought about.

Those affected can be in a majority or in a minority. So I always encourage people to think, take actions they consider wise, engage in thought and consider the views of others as much as possible.

There is already enough violence worldwide, so why more is needed in Australia, like in this case, is something I will always question.

«Does anyone believe that we evolved from monkeys?»

Of course not, but our bodies have.

//Of course not, but our bodies have.//

No, we did not evolve from monkeys. Monkeys and humans share a common ancestor. It probably looked a bit like a lemur.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sci/tech/1935558.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_of_primates

Yes, Nathan. It's all 'rights' with no obligations or respect for others with some people. There is no automatic right to protest for anyone. I don't know what the law is these days, but people used to have to apply for a permit to demonstrate or protest.

'No, we did not evolve from monkeys. Monkeys and humans share a common ancestor. It probably looked a bit like a lemur.' you are a joking Toni. How could anyone be do daft? And you of all scoff at miracles.

There's a difference between standing up for what you believe in, and helping a cause. With the direction I see protest movements going, it seems that standing up for a cause is all that matters. Then protests and counter protests are a thing where the only point is to stand up for your beliefs and stand against those who believe otherwise.

Protesting is becoming less about being nonviolent, and more about trying to intice a violent reaction to "get the message accross." I'm betting the protesters in the restruant were suprised they weren't fought. But expected something to happen.

I have taken part in many protests over the years, and surprise surprise the level of violence has been small. By far the worse levels have been the result of heavy handed action by the police. The worse I ever experienced was during the Vietnam War protests of the late 60's early 70's. Police acting at the behest of the state would arrest protesters on mass, often assisted by "special constables" in the form of neo-nazi's and others from the extreme right.

The thing is that protests don't achieve anything. The moratoriums referred to by Paul didn't stop the Vietnam war; talks between Richard Nixon and the Chinese government did that. All the marching and violence caused nothing but more division and hatred between those for and against a civil war the West should never have been involved in: one which the enemy, communism, won. Those of us against the war made a fuss about Whitlam pulling out and stopping conscription (of young men only) but it had nothing to with protesting and the notorious Prof. Brian Medlin. It was stopped, after the damage was done, by an agreement between an American president and an old communist Chinaman. The only effective protests we of the hoi polloi have is one lousy vote every three years, and most of us don't use that properly.

Hi there IS MISE...

In answer to your question, it's my belief the monkeys evolved from us, the poor buggers!

Dear Tony,

I stand corrected regarding the origins of the bodies which we currently use. Thank you.

Veganism is the bench mark for virtue signalling.

The protest wasn't against meat, it was to show everyone that they were morally superior.

Paul,

Back in the day, I thought that we were doing the wrong thing in Vietnam, after all, Ho Chi Minh had been our ally against the Japanese and had it not been for Britains insistence on the restoration of pre-war administrations there would never have been the trouble in Vietnam.

One funny incident from the protests of that era, was when the police parked a line of 'paddy wagons' in Pitt St in readiness for the intended arrests.
Along came a few potential protestors who noticed that the vehicles were parked near a locksmith's, in they went and bought sufficient locks to lock all the wagons,
When the police arrived with their prisoners from the protest they couldn't put them in the wagons so had to let them go.

I watched the video but couldn't get any sound (if there was some).
Yes I agree with others and thought thought their behavior was disgusting.
Is not cheap to eat out these days and these business owners aren't doing anything different that doesn't occur in 90% of peoples homes.

Why couldn't they protest on parliament house lawn instead?
What was the real reason they did this at this particular restaurant?
What are they going to do, break into peoples homes and try and stop everyone eating steak?

I don't know why I bother responding.
I often say that leftists and society these days is completely retarded.
Why should I even be surprised?