Copyright The Oregonian
As with most things in life, Portland’s reputation is mostly a matter of where you point the lens. But just as President Donald Trump and his administration have hammered the drums of war over nightly protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in South Portland, it’s undeniable that the city has responded in the most on-brand way possible. Frogs. Knitters. Llamas and horseback riders. Disco dance parties, naked bike rides and aerobics workouts — all happening in what Trump has falsely characterized as the most dangerous block in a city of anarchy. Whether planned or quirky happenstance, these off-beat protests have shown a different side of Portland: one beloved or bemoaned, perhaps, depending on the viewer’s politics. And people have been watching. Reporters from The Oregonian/OregonLive have created videos viewed millions of times in the past month, showcasing how Portlanders responded to martial rhetoric with a dash of whimsy and a heap of humor. There are other parts of the story. A peaceful protest is not necessarily a polite one, as any rooftop ICE officer listening to the chant of “Jump!” can attest. Federal officers and local police have arrested dozens of black-clad protesters on charges ranging from assault to vandalism. The most chaotic nights occurred several months ago, and many nighttime protests are now attended only by livestreamers and a handful of demonstrators. Outside the frame of South Bancroft Street, Portland continues to grapple with common big-city problems, including a dramatic rise in homelessness. The story of Portland’s absurd ICE demonstrations is worth reporting, too. Here are 15 videos that tell the tale: Portland city councilors cheer on marathon runners near ICE facility As nearly 12,000 runners streamed down the streets of the Rose City for the 53rd-annual Portland Marathon on Oct. 4, two city councilors planted themselves in the roadway just on the edge of the ICE office. “This is a safe place to be,” said City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney. [Watch here] Group held puppy party protest to say: ‘Paws off Portland!’ On Oct. 7, a pack of dog owners and their fur-babies gathered outside Revolution Hall in Southeast Portland in an event dubbed “Paws for Peace.” As very good boys and girls nosed a reporter’s camera, one attendee remarked: “We love Portland. It’s a peaceful city. And it’s not a war zone, you can see that in every community across the city.” [Watch here] Meet the Portland protest frog that started a movement Seth Todd is a stalwart presence at ICE protests. The 24-year-old unwittingly started an international trend when he began wearing an inflatable frog costume. He was lonely on the lily pad at first, but the amphibious symbol of dissent soon caught on, and is now a common site across the nation — and the globe — as well as on flyers, pins, badges and posters. “As part of the Mexican community, the Latino community, I don’t like seeing my neighbors, my community members, my family being kidnapped, essentially,” Todd told a reporter Oct. 9. [Watch here] Unicorn bride marries Kenny from South Park at Portland ICE protest There was an unexpectedly marital — not martial — mood in the air Oct. 10, as a bride wearing an inflatable unicorn costume and a groom dressed as Kenny from “South Park” officially tied the knot at a Portland protest. While the happy couple declined to give their names, the unicorn said she wanted to give her wedding vows at the demonstration as a way “to take our power back.” [Watch here] The Unipiper made an appearance at Portland’s ICE protest The Unipiper — one of Portland’s most well known performers — brought his trademark unicycle and bagpipes to the ICE protest on Oct. 11. Between bleats of “This Land is Your Land,” the iconic folk song by Woody Guthrie, the Unipiper told a reporter this was his first trip to ICE facility. “I’ve been really impressed by how Portland has responded to this imposition from the feds,” said the Unipiper, also known as Brian Kidd. [Watch here] Portland’s ‘Emergency’ Naked Bike Ride protests ICE in pouring rain Few emergencies involve getting naked… at least the type we get invited to. But the Oct. 12 “Emergency” Naked Bike Ride drew hundreds of barely- and not-at-all clad cyclists to the rainy streets of Portland as they rode from the Oregon Convention Center to the ICE office. The crowd of more than 1,000 riders also staged a “die-in” on the Burnside Bridge. [Watch here] ‘Operation Inflation’ gives out costumes at Portland ICE protests The inflatable menagerie at Portland’s ICE protests was reaching zoo-keeping proportions by Oct. 13, thanks to efforts of a few buyers who launched “Operation Inflation” to provide free costumes to demonstrators. In an interview, a volunteer said they had raised funds to buy 160 costumes and had already given out half of them. “It blew up really big, really fast,” she said. “Everbody wants a frog.” [Watch here] Secret Roller Disco holds dance party outside ICE building in South Portland An element of subterfuge was at play Oct. 16 as members of Portland’s “Secret Roller Disco” club convened on the South Waterfront and rolled to ICE for an eight-wheeled protest. With a dress-code that was sequin-forward, the group swirled and circled the night away. [Watch here] Knitters and crocheters join Portland’s ICE protests Also on Oct. 16, a group of fiber artists gathered in daylight across the street from the ICE building for a display of their craftwork and knotted masterpieces. Self-proclaimed “yarn punk” Vincent Green-Hite said he was there to craft in peace. “Portland is a very nonviolent city, as some might not believe due to certain rhetoric, but we really are,” the crocheter said. “It’s a weird city.” [Watch here] Man on horseback protests at Portland ICE facility A grey-and-white Andalusian horse named Príncipe, and his rider, Portland’s Mateo Garcia, arrived at the ICE protest at a trotting pace on Oct. 22. Proudly waving a Mexican flag, the rider said his uncle had been needlessly detained by ICE despite holding a green card. “I came out here to represent the Mexican people who can’t come out of here because of what ICE is doing to them,” Garcia said. [Watch here] LGBTQ+ choir joins protest at Portland ICE facility Berobed in pink rain ponchos, 45 choralists from the Portland Sage Singers performed protest songs outside the ICE office — their voices undampened despite the pouring rain. The Sage Singers are an LGBTQ+ and ally “elder choir,” artist director Tim Seelig told a reporter Oct. 23, with the youngest vocalists over 55 and the oldest performing at age 90. “We are, as a people, worried about our rights being taken away,” Seelig said. [Watch here] Dance lessons return to Portland ICE protests The Latin dance organization Bailando Afuera spent the summer hosting free dance lessons across the Portland area. On Oct. 27, they performed for perhaps their most unusual audience yet, making rhythmic moves across the street from the ICE field office. “We come together because we have something in common — and that’s dance,” said organizer Julianne Valdez. “We just want to showcase the possibilities of what it can give people, and how amazing it is that it brings the community together.” [Watch here] Caesar the No Drama Llama attends ICE protest Larry McCool, the owner of Mystic Llama Farm, has roamed the ranges of Portland for years. McCool and his long-haired sidekick, Caesar the No Drama Lama, have been spotted on MAX trains, at protests, parades, schools and nursing homes — and everywhere else a therapy llama can do some good. And so it was at the ICE office on Oct. 29. “He brings a lot of joy to people,” McCool said. [Watch here] Religious leaders offer blessing to protesters dressed in animal costumes There were no inflatable protesters braving the rain on Nov. 3, but a convocation of religious leaders were determined to offer their blessings underneath the clouds at ICE. A protester in a chicken suit proved close enough. “We’re trying to honor the people who are protesting,” said the Rev. Catherine Alder. “We want to honor the people who are peaceful, and bless them for it.” [Watch here] ‘80s aerobics protest ‘sweatin’ out the fascists’ at Portland ICE facility Protesters were feeling the burn — not ICE — on Nov. 9 as members of the Fulcrum Fitness gym put on an ‘80s-style workout across the street from the immigration office. Jane Fonda herself wouldn’t have been out of place among the neon-hued sweatbands and brightly-colored workout leggings. “We’re upset by what’s happening to our community and neighbors and friends,” said organizer Karen Werstein. “We decided we wanted to combat that in a playful, fun, high-energy way.” [Watch here]
