A controversial vegan activist has been banned from every pub in Western Australia for ambushing diners at a seafood restaurant and publicly chastising them about the ‘fish holocaust’ – is now coming east.
Tash Peterson, 26, was served with a Barring Notice by WA Police, informing her she is not allowed in any licenced venue across the state, including pubs and restaurants.
The glamorous social media influencer – known as Vegan Booty online – has a long history of carrying out wild animal rights protests in public venues designed to shock meat-eaters.
She and a group of other activists stormed the Bathers Beach House restaurant in Fremantle in Perth’s south in May.
They proudly filmed her stood on a table where she called diners ‘animal abusers’ and shouted out a pre-written speech while furious diners yelled ‘boo’ and told her to ‘shut up’.
The group later posted the demonstration on Instagram.
Tash Peterson (pictured), who is a serial vegan protester, ambushed patrons at a seafood restaurant and later compared herself to women’s rights activists
Undeterred by the heavy police reaction to the stunt, Ms Peterson now says she’s heading to the east, where the banning order does not apply.
‘They are using it to try and stop me from protesting but guess what WA I’m getting the f**k out of here so I can continue to do my protesting in other states,’ she said in a Facebook video.
‘Things like this are not going to stop me, they’re only going to fuel my fire to continue protesting.’
Under the rules of the banning order, Ms Peterson can face a fine of $10,000 for entering any pub, nightclub or bottle shop in WA.
She plans to lodge an appeal to have the tough penalty overturned.
‘This where the legal system is really f**ked,’ she declared, claiming that her ‘freedom of speech’ is being infringed upon by the state government.
‘I’m flying out on Monday so I’m not really sure if I’m going to have time to try and appeal this. But I think it is very important that I appeal this,’ she continued.
In another stunt, the militant vegan went topless and painted herself in cow print to protest outside a butcher’s shop
Tash Peterson (pictured), is known for causing disturbances with her protest, including this anti-fish demonstration at a restaurant in Fremantle, proudly boasting of her antics online
During a recent stunt in Fremantle, Ms Peterson donned activewear as she screamed at confused diners about the suffering of fish during the highly-publicised seafood restaurant protest.
‘Right now, in this moment, there are billions of fish, dolphins, whales and other marine animals being ripped from the ocean, in massive trawler nets and they are suffocating to death,’ she yelled.
‘This is the largest holocaust in history.’
Panicked staff told the group to leave, but Ms Peterson continued to yell ‘animal abusers’ repeatedly at patrons before finishing her tirade outside in a bizarre attempt to force diners to reevaluate their choices and become vegan.
One man took issue to the protect and tried to intercept the glamorous blonde as she strained her voice telling diners that ‘2.7 trillion fish are brutally murdered each year for human consumption’.
Ms Peterson has previously dressed in bloodied aprons and stormed into restaurants and supermarkets like McDonald’s and Coles
Outside the Fremantle fish restaurant, her group held a banner (pictured) that encouraged patrons to watch the Netflix documentary Seaspiracy
‘These people are having dinner. Shut up,’ he said, approaching Peterson.
She flinched and replied: ‘Don’t touch me – you’re on the camera and I’m reporting you to the police.’
The man continued, ‘You’re offending people. You’re offending people. Stop offending people.’
‘If you’re not a vegan you’re an animal abuser,’ she said.
Behind her, activists held a banner that encouraged people to watch the Netflix documentary Seaspiracy, which is about the global environmental impact of the fishing industry.
‘These people are having dinner. Shut up,’ a man (pictured right) said, approaching Peterson after she stood on a table and yelled at diners (left) during a Fremantle protest
Tash Peterson (pictured) has been known to protest inside supermarkets and at restaurants
They chanted: ‘Fish feel pain, just like us.’
Social media users were divided by the stunt, with some of her diehard fans applauding her efforts but most others slamming her for ruining people’s evenings.
‘Amazing work! Where do you buy these posters from please I want to start doing protests,’ one woman wrote.
‘Thankyou for being there and trying to open people’s eyes to the truth,’ another wrote.
But someone else said, sarcastically: ‘You really made a difference Tash when you disturbed those people having their dinner for two minutes.’
Tash Peterson with her boyfriend Jack Higgs. Has had been known to help his girlfriend pull off her stunts
Tash Peterson, 26, became known for the public antics when she dressed as a cow outside a butcher at the Boatshed Markets at Cottesloe, in Perth
In a follow-up post, Peterson sensationally likened her ‘social change’ protest to a series of landmark decisions in Australia, including a ruling after 1902 that gave women the right to vote.
She also said identifying as an LGBT person was only decriminalized after 1975 as a result of protests like hers.
‘They were highly criticised and disliked by the majority. But within a short period of time – the majority supported their rights and unjust laws were changed,’ she wrote.
The stunt at the restaurant is among many Peterson has pulled over the course of her activism.
Peterson (pictured) once interrupted an AFLW match by running onto the field at Perth Stadium
She has dressed in bloodied aprons and stormed into restaurants and supermarkets like McDonald’s and Coles.
She even interrupted an AFLW match by running onto the field at Perth Stadium.
The serial protester ran around for about a minute before she was tackled by Fremantle midfielder Kiara Bowers long enough for security to catch up.
Ms Peterson fronted court where she was fined $1,800 for trespassing.
In December, she stormed a fish market and Woolworths store in Perth before launching into a heated rant to stop customers from buying meat.
She wore a onesie up to her waist and painted her body in black and white spots to represent a cow and waved a sign that personified a cow that had been abused and tortured.
‘They raped me and stole my babies so you can have my meat,’ it read.
Stunned shoppers stopped in their tracks as Ms Peterson urged them to ditch meat and completely overhaul their diets for the sake of animals.