Vegan's bloody David Jones stunt after being blocked from leaving the state
Despite racking up thousands in fines for her antics, Perth-based animal rights activist Tash Peterson turned heads for her latest stunt aimed at David Jones.
A vegan activist renowned for her brazen and eccentric stunts has again attracted attention outside of a popular Australian department store after protesting the sale of animal skin while wearing a bikini covered in fake blood.
Perth-based animal rights activist and social media personality Tash Peterson took to Hay Street in the city's CBD on Monday to demand David Jones stop selling animal products, in a joint demonstration with PETA.
Stunned customers watched on as Peterson walked down the busy strip dripping with artificial blood, calling for the retail giant to cease selling leather products, while detailing a list of offences she was recently charged with as a result of a previous demonstration.
"I was convicted of three criminal offences as a result of protest I did at a restaurant who [sic] banned all vegans," she said. "I was fined $2,500 and ordered to do 30 hours of community service.
"Just last week, I was convicted with two more offences, criminal damage and disorderly conduct, for pouring fake blood all over a butcher store... I was fined over $2000." Peterson was also blocked from leaving the state of WA for a period of six months as a result, which she branded "absurd".
Activist calls on David Jones to stop selling animal products
In the video, Peterson is seen walking down Hay Street, donning a microphone with fake blood dripping form her mouth, speaking to the camera as shoppers go about their day in the background. "David Jones abuse and murder animals for their skin," she can be seen yelling from a podium.
"Animals are not jackets, bags and belts, they are people who feel pain. These animals are brutally tortured, abused and murdered, they're skinned alive, to be turned into your jackets...this is the largest holocaust in history," she claimed.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Peterson stood firm on her stance.
"Non-human animals are brutally tortured, abused and murdered for their bodies. Crocodiles, snakes and other animals are often skinned alive to be turned into clothing and fashion items," she told Yahoo.
Numerous investigations have revealed rampant cruelty inside the wild animal skins industry. One PETA Asia investigation documented snakes being cruelly confined and then bashed over the head with hammers whilst still alive. Meanwhile, ostriches are often egregiously abused before their throats are slit right in front of their frightened flock mates.
"David Jones sell brands such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci who murder animals for their skin. David Jones has BLOOD on their hands and so do you if you’re not vegan."
Tash Peterson known for controversial protests
Monday's protest comes after Peterson pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly behaviour and criminal damage for a similar stunt at another Perth shopping centre in December. Peterson's other high-profile demonstrations previously included her pouring fake blood on the glass of a butcher's and two separate incidents at Fyre restaurant in Connolly in 2023.
"Let me be clear, I will never stop speaking up for the most oppressed victims on this planet," she said in the video from Monday's stunt, adding she believed police had "infiltrated" her "circles" to "gather information" about her activism.
"The police are putting in massive resources in attempt to stop me from protesting for animal rights," she claimed.
Online, some followers applauded Peterson for making a stand.
"Tash should be getting awards for all that she does! Who is as loud as her for animal rights?" one woman wrote in response. "You are one of the most influential people in Western Australia. Thank you for everything that you do to save the animals," echoed a second.
However others on the platforms where her content was posted were far less sympathetic.
"For community service, maybe you should work on a few farms. You’d quickly realise that they aren’t as bad as the minority that you portray to your viewers," one commenter said.
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