Lingerie-clad vegan activists brave winter chill to protest feather products

A group of protesters, braving freezing conditions, has used the busy lunchtime rush to call out the actions of major companies and their customers.

Protesters have flocked to the Melbourne’s CBD, braving the icy weather in pink lingerie, to campaign against the use of feather and down in blankets and clothing.

Led by notorious animal rights activist Tash Peterson, the small scantily clad crowd gathered on Wednesday, holding up signs, with a television playing graphic videos of birds having their feathers removed.

“If you see yourself as an animal abuser, then carry on buying these products,” one protester said to the crowd which had gathered at the busy intersection outside Flinders Street Station.

“But if you think this is wrong, then stop buying it.”

The activists wore pink lingerie on a dreary Wednesday afternoon to protest for animal rights. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

The protesters said they were exercising their bodily autonomy to fight on behalf of animals, who couldn’t. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

One of the female protesters approached a disgruntled man on the street who was heckling the ensemble, seemingly responding to heated comments regarding the sentience of worms.

Ms Peterson, who goes by Vegan Booty online, posted to social media on Tuesday claiming people were flying from interstate to take part in the protest.

The group braved the cold weather to protest the use of feather and down in jackets and blankets. Picture: Supplied

Just last month Ms Peterson donned an abattoir ensemble and entered a KFC restaurant, confronting patrons by pouring fake blood around the outlet’s interior while another activist played a video of chickens being slaughtered.

She also recently appeared in a Melbourne Kathmandu store to protest the use of feather and down, dressed as a skinned bird and holding a replica goose carcass.

The activist recently protested Kathmandu’s use of feathers in a Melbourne store. Picture: Instagram

In May she protested the slaughter of chickens in a KFC restaurant. Picture: Instagram

Addressing passers-by, one shirtless protester pointed to the looped videos playing on the TV.

“On the screen there are ducks and geese having their feathers ripped out at 10 weeks old, every six weeks or so, until their brutal death in the slaughterhouse at around 12 months old,” he said.

“This is where your warm doonas, coats, jackets and sleeping bags come from.”

The advocates held up a variety of signs, some reading “If You’re Not Vegan, You’re An Animal Abuser” while another said “Veganism Is Hard For Selfish People”.

One protester was seen arguing with a disgruntled passer-by. Picture: Supplied

One sign read “Tofu Never Screams”, and others said “Eat P***y Not Animals”.

Two protesters held signs which also urged consumers to consider the environmental impacts of animal agriculture.

“Choose Climate-Friendly Eating” one said, and another: “Animal Agriculture Is The Single Largest Contributor To Climate Change”.

One protester told the crowd the group was exercising its bodily autonomy to protest on behalf of animals, which weren’t able to do so.