Portland’s amazing annual World Naked Bike Ride returns to the streets this year! This particular and much-beloved summer tradition infused a new sense of urgency to its legions of participants. Since 2004, this one-day fun ride and rolling protest has drawn hundreds of participants who pedal through the downtown streets clad in little more than their birthday suits. This year, they are protesting against former President Donald Trump’s vague threats to mobilize the National Guard.
Organized hastily in response to Trump’s actions, the ride drew crowds of enthusiastic participants who voiced their dissent against federalized troop deployment. As the city awaits a ruling from an appeals court on the legality of sending federal troops to quell protests, the event took on a significant political tone. A federal judge had already placed a temporary hold on the deployment of such federalized troops on October 5th.
The Portland World Naked Bike Ride is a pretty spectacular spectacle sure to attract some attention. Yet it serves as a valuable platform for activism. In other years it has drawn up to 10,000 riders. Participants typically ride with a 360-degree live DJ pumping music through speakers, ensuring a party-like atmosphere that sometimes stops traffic.
This year, 51-year-old Janene King, one of this year’s riders, made a strong case for having dissenting voices heard through a creative approach. She rode in the event — protected by a helmet — clad in wool socks, a blonde wig and a cowboy hat.
“We definitely do not want troops coming into our city,” – Janene King
Famed for its irreverent spirit, the event’s riders frequently wear ridiculous costumes in addition to their birthday suits. This has often involved inflatable frogs, unicorns, axolotls, bananas—a fun, creative, silly, whimsical idea, part of the creativity and humor of Portland’s activist community.
We didn’t, but as the organizers of the Portland World Naked Bike Ride will tell you, joy is a pretty darn important type of protest.
“Joy is a form of protest. Being together with mutual respect and kindness is a form of protest,” – Portland World Naked Bike Ride organizers
They promoted the fun aspect of the event by sharing that everyone can decide the level of dress code just by participating in the event.
“It’s your choice how much or little you wear,” – Portland World Naked Bike Ride organizers
It was as if the cyclists were playing a game, darting in and out of traffic. They pedaled past crowds that formed each day outside the Portland ICE detention center. The federal law enforcement presence in the area is still extreme. Demonstrators in Philadelphia and Louisville, reports show that police have deployed tear gas and pepper balls to disperse sustained protests.