Vegan activist Tash Peterson’s next big move

A prominent vegan and social activist has announced she has bought a one-way ticket to an Australian capital city.

A prominent vegan activist has moved from her home city of Perth after allegedly being banned from “every liquor licence venue” in Western Australia.

Tash Peterson, 28, has taken to social media to post about how her and her partner have made the move to Melbourne after claims her freedom of speech was taken away from her.

“As you may or may not know, I have been banned from every liquor licence venue in Western Australia for a period of eight months,” she said.

“That was a result of a protest that I did, a nonviolent protest in a restaurant. So my freedom of speech has been taken from me and we have a one-way ticket to Melbourne and I’m going to protest over there.”

Tash Peterson shared pictures of her at the gates of Perth Zoo with fellow activists. Picture: Supplied / Instagram

The pair, set to arrive in Melbourne on Thursday, is wasting no time, with plans to protest on Bourke St as soon as they arrive.

Their move comes just days after the activist protested outside Perth Zoo following the death of beloved elephant Tricia.

Ms Peterson posted a video of herself to her social media on Saturday, demonstrating at the zoo’s entrance gates with a megaphone.

“In memory of Tricia, I am here to bring light to the remaining imprisoned victims in Perth Zoo and other zoos across the world,” she said.

“Tricia lived almost her entire life here, imprisoned in Perth Zoo. She was kidnapped from her family in Vietnam at the age of six, and was transported into Perth Zoo Prison. Put yourself in her and her family‘s position. It’s unimaginable as to how traumatising that experience would have been.”

Another activist held a sign, urging people to “Watch Dominion on YouTube”, a 2018 Australian documentary which films secret footage from inside farms in a bid to influence public opinion on animal farming.

Stills taken from vegan activist Tash Peterson’s Instagram account of her being assaulted out the front of the Perth Zoo as she protests about zoo animals being kept in captivity. Picture: Instagram

Ms Peterson, clad in a top with the slogan “vegan forever” down the sleeves, clashed with a couple of passers-by who hurled verbal abuse at her as she protested about animals in captivity.

One man appeared to try to grab her phone, while a young woman attempted to take hold of her megaphone and swore at her.

In June, the activist announced that police were investigating vile death threats made towards her following a protest at Outback Jack’s Bar and Grill in Perth.

Ms Peterson wore a white apron with fake splatters, shouting “their blood is on your hands” to customers.

“The sounds you hear now are the sounds of animals screaming for their lives inside Australian slaughterhouses,” she said.

The stunt triggered outrage at the steakhouse, with one patron allegedly putting the activist in a headlock, while another grabbed her wrists.

Vegan activist Tash Peterson sparked outrage with her June protest at a Perth steakhouse. Picture: Supplied

Following the protest, Ms Peterson shared on social media she had been contacted by the State Security Investigation Group, following a serious threat made on an Instagram post last month.

“This person said they would ‘gut that little s***’ and something about steak knives and how my next protest will end with a gas bomb,” she said.

“This is the first time, I am aware of, that the police are actually investigating and acting on the threats that I receive.”

The activist claims she has been receiving death threats over the past two years, following numerous physical attacks, including one farmer who allegedly wrestled Ms Peterson out of a show ring at the Perth Royal Show last year.

“I have been receiving serious threats for about two years now and nothing has ever been done,” Ms Peterson said.

Tash Peterson was also allegedly assaulted at a protest at the Perth Royal Show. Picture: Facebook

In a social media video, Ms Peterson called on police to investigate the two people who allegedly assaulted her in her most recent steakhouse protest.

“I’m very bruised and I definitely will be putting in police statements to get these people charged for assault,” she said.

“Now that customers have actually assaulted me, it will be interesting to see if the police actually act and charge them.

“It’s not okay to touch someone if you don’t agree with their beliefs and people have the right to protest.”

Tash Peterson at a protest at the Perth Royal Show. Picture: Facebook

In a statement, WA Police said they could not confirm if they were investigating the threats and declined to comment further.

The activist is widely known for her topless protests inside markets and luxury stores, which resulted in her being fined $3500.

On Friday, Ms Peterson was found guilty at the Perth Magistrates Court on two counts of behaving in a disorderly manner over two shirtless protests in 2020.

The activist denied her behaviour was unlawful or offensive, claiming that men who go shirtless do not face criminal charges.

Originally published as Vegan activist Tash Peterson’s next big move