More than that, they're arrogant little twerps. This is in today's
Toronto Star:
(see
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_T
ype1&c=Article&cid=1095199811617&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154

for a photograph)
Cat killer crashes protest
Appears outside film festival screening
Police take him in until film ends

MURRAY WHYTE
ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER

A placid protest outside the Cumberland Theatre last night erupted in
a row when the subject of the protesters' ire, cat killer Jesse
Powers, made an impromptu appearance outside the theatre.

Powers is the former Ontario College of Art and Design student who
videotaped himself skinning a live cat for an apparent art project in
2001. The resulting animal cruelty case made international news,
launching Powers to a sensational degree of infamy.

Powers and two others were sentenced last year to 90 days jail time,
to be served largely on weekends.

The festival this year selected a documentary about the case,
Casuistry: The Art of Killing a Cat, for its Real to Reel program. The
film generated a large degree of controversy leading up to the
festival, and a programmer received a death threat at his home.

Yesterday, a crowd of about 100 — armed with various placards and
posters with the image of Kensington, the cat that became Powers'
victim — were milling quietly about in the minutes leading up to the 6
p.m. world premiere screening when Powers suddenly emerged from behind
the crowd and crossed the street.

A chorus of "cat killer," rose from the throng of suddenly restless
protesters, who converged on Powers before he could reach the theatre.

A crowd of demonstrators and police surrounded him. One protester
confronted him, demanding to know if he felt any remorse.

"I felt sort of bad about it after, but I haven't had a chance to
(feel guilty), because everything sort of barraged on top of me,"
Powers said calmly.

"When was there time to feel guilty? In the end, I got to bring the
wrath upon myself."

Powers and the protester continued talking when a police officer
stepped in, and took him into the theatre.

Powers emerged from the theatre's foyer struggling with police, his
hands cuffed behind his back.

A clutch of officers surrounded Powers, escorting him to a waiting
police van that had suddenly appeared on Cumberland. Police confirmed
that Powers had been arrested for breach of peace.

He was held in custody until "the situation was alleviated," said a
staff sergeant at 53 Division. Police held him for about 2 1/2 hours
until the film ended and the crowd dispersed. He was then released
without charge.

It is not known whether Powers was a scheduled guest, or if he
appeared of his own accord.

The festival administration could not be reached for comment last
night.

The second and final screening of the documentary is scheduled for
Friday

I have been enough at the fringes of the "art world" to know the excuse
for any behavior being "I was making a statement".  I wonder what the
reaction of such an "artist" would be if one spits in their face,
explaining "that was my statement of performance art."  Indeed, even a
stronger statement comes to mind.

Violence is not a good thing, but sometimes violence may be the only way
to educate someone that their actions have consequences.