Australian vegan activist Tash Peterson has once again ignited controversy after staging a provocative protest outside David Jones on Hay Street in Perth’s CBD.
Clad in a snake-print bikini and covered in fake blood, Peterson, in collaboration with PETA, demonstrated against the sale of animal skin products. She dramatically lay on a blood-soaked chopping block that read, “David Jones: Drop Wild-Animal Skins.”
In an Instagram video, Peterson stated, “Animals are not jackets, bags, and belts; they are beings who feel pain.” She accused the fashion industry of “torturing and murdering” animals for their skins to produce clothing and accessories.
Passersby appeared puzzled, with some choosing to ignore the scene while others carried on with their daily routines. Peterson’s snake-print bikini was intended to represent “abused reptiles” and highlight animal cruelty.
This demonstration follows a series of controversial protests by Peterson, including a recent guilty plea for disorderly behavior and criminal damage during a December stunt. Despite legal repercussions and a ban on leaving Western Australia, she vowed to continue advocating for animal rights and criticized the police for allegedly infiltrating her activist group.