In Portland, activists are planning a unique show of dissent. It’s about riding a naked bike to protest Trump’s National Guard deployment.
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In Portland, it’s not strange to see a pack of naked bikes covered in bright body paint running around town. But this year, the familiar sights have stunned the more political tone.
Organizers of the Group World Naked Bike Ride Portland have announced plans for a “emergency” event to protest the Trump administration’s deployment of federal National Guard forces to liberal bases.
“In response to the militarization of our cities, we’re riding an emergency world naked bike,” the group’s Instagram post said. “The plan is working on.”
The organizers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. No dates for the protest have been provided yet.
Portland has been holding its annual naked bike ride since 2004 as a statement on cyclists’ rights, physical positivity and protest against fossil fuel companies. The event draws thousands of cyclists into the streets, where they bare everything. In Oregon, public nudity is legally considered a form of protest.
The planned anti-Trump cycling protest is not affiliated with Portland World Naked Bike Ride, a group that hosts the annual events that mostly attended. A derivative of the name World Naked Bike Ride, Portland, has recently held protests, including a nude ride against Zenith Energy, a fuel storage company facing surveillance at a terminal along the Willamette River in northwestern Portland.
The nude cycling culture is entrenched in cities across the United States, and the rides themselves often address local issues. Last month, a nude bike ride was held in Houston, advocating for better cycling infrastructure and protesting the removal of protected bike lanes.
Many vehicles, including the National Guard protesting in Portland, have nothing to do with the world-nude bike rides of organizations that have held rides in New Zealand, Mexico, Argentina, Japan, Canada and more than a dozen other countries.
The mobile demonstration comes after President Donald Trump announced the deployment of National Guard troops in Portland to protect immigration and customs enforcement facilities, which were the scene of this year’s protests that occasionally exploded in clashes between protesters and law enforcement.
Trump has described his social media platform city as a “endless disaster,” but states and local leaders have denounced the deployment, saying it’s not necessary.
“There are no riots, no threat to national security, and no need for troops in our major cities,” said Democrat Gov. Tina Kotek. Oregon and Portland officials filed a federal lawsuit against the administration this week, calling the development “patentably illegal.”
(This story has been updated to add new information)
Contributors: Sarah D. Wire and Joey Garrison
