Inflatable Creatures Take on Protest: Portland's Quirky Approach to Demonstration

Thu Oct 23 2025 13:05:27 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In Portland, Oregon, inflatable costumes are making waves at protests against the Trump administration's policies, with protesters using playful attire to challenge narratives of violence and chaos.

At protests outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Portland, participants have donned inflatable costumes to convey non-violence and humor in the face of federal crackdowns. The movement, captured in recent viral videos, is part of a broader cultural response against negative portrayals of protesters and aims to promote a spirit of joy in activism. Activist groups are distributing costumes widely, and events like the ‘No Kings’ marches see colorful characters representing whimsical and fantastical themes. This light-hearted approach challenges conventional protest imagery and garners attention both in-person and on social media.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — At a recent protest outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Portland, Oregon, activist Seth Todd donned an inflatable frog costume, only to be targeted directly by a federal officer with a chemical spray aimed at the costume's air vent.

The event, occurring on October 2, has quickly gone viral, showcasing how inflatable costumes — from hippos in tutus to dinosaurs — have emerged as comedic yet poignant symbols in protests against the Trump administration during marches like the recent ‘No Kings’ rallies across the U.S.

Todd, 24, expressed his pride in inspiring a movement, emphasizing the effectiveness of humor in combating narratives that depict protesters as aggressive. He stated, “It’s helping to… combat that specific narrative that we are violent and we are agitating.”

Counter-protests in Portland have often utilized whimsical imagery to counters the depiction of the city as chaotic, a portrayal repeatedly echoed by Trump. As federal attempts to deploy the National Guard in Portland remain blocked by the courts, nightly protests continue at the downtown ICE facility.

Portland has gained a reputation for its innovative protest culture with a motto of ‘Keep Portland Weird.’ The distinctive approach, notably adorned in inflatable costumes reminiscent of childlike wonder, serves not only as a marker of identity for Portlandians but also resonates well on social media as a symbol of nonviolence.

In addition to Todd’s antics, groups like Operation Inflation have started distributing inflatable costumes to volunteers in Texas and beyond, aiming to replicate the creative protest movements seen in Portland. Demonstrator Natalie McCabe, who recently wore a bald eagle costume at an Austin rally, articulated the joy these costumes bring to the movement.

Faced with the absurdity of current political narratives, protesters see these costumes as tools for change, using humor and creativity as mechanisms for critique. Activists in Portland, such as Brooks Brown and Jordy Lybeck, are looking to expand Operation Inflation nationwide, harnessing the spirit of joy in resisting oppression while keeping the protest culture alive and vibrant.