‘Quinestial Portland’: Naked bikers protest National Guard deployment | Trump administration
Protesters who rallied against the Trump administration in Portland showed off the city’s weird and irreverent reputation on Sunday by marching through the streets wearing nothing at all — or close to it — in an “emergency” version of the annual World Naked Bike Ride.
Crowds who gathered daily and nightly outside an immigration facility in Oregon’s largest city in recent days embraced inflatable frogs, unicorns, sea urchins and bananas as they confronted federal law enforcement who often deployed tear gas and pepper balls.
The bike ride is an annual tradition that typically occurs in the summer, but organizers of the hastily held event this weekend said another naked bike ride was necessary to speak out against Donald Trump’s attempts to mobilize the National Guard to quell protests.
Rider Janine King called the naked ride “Portland’s perfect way to protest.”
The 51-year-old was naked except for wool socks, a wig and a hat. She sipped hot tea and said she wasn’t bothered by the constant rain and temperatures in the mid-50s F (about 12 C).
“We certainly don’t want troops entering our city,” King said.
Cyclists made their way through the streets to the city’s US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) building. The authorities there ordered people to stay off the street and protest only on the sidewalks or risk being arrested.
The city is awaiting an appeals panel ruling on whether Trump can send in federal troops after a federal judge on Oct. 5 ordered a temporary suspension of the troop deployment.
“Joy is a form of protest. Being present with mutual respect and kindness is a form of protest,” the trip organizers said on Instagram. “It’s your choice how much or little you wear.”
The number of people who were completely naked was lower than usual – most likely due to the cold, wet weather – but some were still completely naked and rode wearing only bike helmets.
Naked bike rides have snaked through the streets of Oregon’s largest city every year since 2004, often disrupting traffic as crowds pass by with speakers playing music. Some years it has attracted as many as 10,000 riders, according to the Portland World Naked Bike Ride.