Protesters in Portland, Oregon, took to the streets on Sunday for an 'emergency' edition of the annual World Naked Bike Ride, voicing opposition to the Trump administration's attempts to deploy the national guard to quell demonstrations.
Riders, many wearing nothing or very little, cycled through the city in cool, rainy weather, with temperatures around 12°C. The event, hastily called by organisers, aimed to speak out against President Donald Trump's mobilisation of federal troops.
Janene King, 51, who rode naked except for wool socks, a wig and a hat, described the protest as a 'quintessentially Portland way to protest'. She said, 'We definitely do not want troops coming into our city.'
The ride passed the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building, where authorities ordered participants to stay on the sidewalk or risk arrest. The city awaits a ruling from an appeals court on whether Trump can send federalised troops, after a federal judge ordered a temporary hold on deployment on 5 October.
Organisers said on Instagram, 'Joy is a form of protest. Being together with mutual respect and kindness is a form of protest.' The annual naked bike ride has been a tradition in Portland since 2004, sometimes drawing up to 10,000 riders.
