Flipping the table: The role of food in resisting the right

By Tommy Hodgson

Egging and throwing vegetables at right-wing politicians has a rich history but in the last few years has manifested in the practice of ‘milkshaking’, with famous targets including divisive figures Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage.

The point of using milkshakes in particular, with their messy and viscous appearance, is purely to ridicule, reducing the might such characters like to project of themselves. It undercuts their image as the presentable face of xenophobia. As writer G. D. Forrester put it, “these people are salesmen. And no one’s buying from a salesman who has milkshake all down their front.”

Using food in a physical way against hate-mongers is a direct and highly visible retaliation against the kind of toxic rhetoric they spew, and indeed the real violence they inspire. Although one could argue that the choice of using food to disrupt is secondary to the aim of the tactic, the association of these actions with actual food lends it some originality and notoriety in itself; it helps make a political point with humour and a healthy dose of humiliation.

The practice became so prolific that the milkshake found itself something of an anti-fascist symbol. The furore which emanated from this trend showed at least a base level of effectiveness, and a great example of a simple way to utilise food as a protest.

Flipping the table: The role of food in resisting the right

By Tommy Hodgson