PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – From frogs to raccoons to unicorns, protesters near the Portland ICE facility are finding new ways to use their voice, but with inflatable costumes.
The costumes have become so popular that more protesters show up each day wearing a new one.
“They don’t know how to react to people with humor and silliness, so why not try that?” said a woman in a frog costume on Thursday.
Portland is protesting in costume – inflatable costumes – and the number is growing by the day. The inflatable costumes have become such a staple that a group called Operation Inflation is asking for funding for more costumes for people to wear at the protests.
“I think it’s really amazing that Portland is taking a uniquely Portland approach to protests. The whimsy of it is really fantastic. It makes it fun, makes it accessible, it feels safe,” said Justin Kent. “It takes the argument out of the idea that this is a violent thing.”
Kent said that after seeing Operation Inflation, he started an online gift registry to get more costumes to protesters, and it has been booming.
“I’ve had friends internationally donate costumes, set it up on Friday, and as of Monday, I’ve had 26 costumes donated,” said Kent.
Frogs have become the most popular costume to watch out for, with a new frog every night.
“I knew that with the way we live our lives by dressing up and having fun, if we could use that to our advantage to combat what is going on here, then we’re going to do that,” said one man in a frog costume.
But other costumes are growing in popularity as well.
“There’s a raccoon, a couple just came and got a raccoon and a chicken, I brought about a half dozen unicorn costumes,” said Kent.
If you aren’t wearing something inflatable, you might be wearing a onesie courtesy of someone named Kevin.
“People have grabbed every inflatable that I have brought out,” said Kevin. “This is me, this is my own money, I just want people to enjoy themselves.”
With the costumes, knitting, music, and energy, Kevin said this is changing the way people see Portland.
“It’s hard to come up with an alternate narrative when you have people dancing, you know, in costume,” said Kevin.
And even in moments of tension, nothing seemed to deflate protesters’ spirits.
“This is 100% a Portland reaction, Chicago is saying ‘we will fight,’ and Portland is saying ‘we will be silly,’” said one woman in a frog costume.
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