A party atmosphere returned to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building Sunday as the “emergency” World Naked Bike Ride brought more than 1,000 peaceful protesters to the site of national attention.
Tensions flared Saturday when federal officers blasted the crowd with stun grenades and chemicals, including tear gas, smoke and pepper balls.
On Sunday, federal agents shot pepper balls at the crowd outside the South Portland facility around 5 p.m., about 45 minutes after cyclists reached the building from their starting point at the Oregon Convention Center Plaza.
But, for much of the evening, protesters and counter-protesters mostly milled about the sidewalks near the facility while trying to stay warm and dry. (More than a quarter inch of rain fell on Portland by 7 p.m. as the temperature hovered around 54 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.)
Many protesters again donned inflatable costumes and danced to hits such as Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Some yelled at federal agents, including from the Federal Bureau of Prisons who are now part of the mix of officers guarding the building.
Sample taunt: “I’m sorry your parents didn’t love you.”
A group of counter-protesters, meanwhile, observed the scene from across the street next to a painted portrait of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
And a resident of Gray’s Landing, the low-income apartment building across the street from ICE, used a bullhorn from a balcony to promise to send evidence of protesters’ noise and disruptions to the Portland City Council.
Here’s what we know.
Portland cyclists strip down
More than a thousand cyclists in various states of undress braved the rainy streets of Portland on Sunday afternoon to protest President Donald Trump’s attempts to send National Guard troops to the city.
Organizers of the World Naked Bike Ride scheduled an “emergency” ride Sunday to highlight “the militarization of Portland and the ongoing harm being done to immigrant and Indigenous communities,” according to a joint Instagram post.
Under pouring rain, the cyclists streamed by the ICE building as armed federal agents stood watch.
“We’re cold, but not as cold as ICE,” said a sign on one rider’s back.
Protest costumes are multiplying nationally
Portland protesters continue to show up at ICE in inflatable costumes. One couple even tied the knot Friday dressed as a unicorn and Kenny from “South Park.”
Now the trend is catching on elsewhere.
Suzanne Moore of California emailed The Oregonian/OregonLive a picture of protesters on the Pacific Coast Highway dressed as frogs, inspired by Portland’s costumed protesters.
“Portlanders found a way to challenge misinformation, divisive and cruel policing of our immigrant community, and stand up in protest — and demonstrate solidarity, play, joy and peaceful protest,” Moore wrote. “What an inspiration!”
In Chicago, too, protesters adopted the animal garb, marching outside the Broadview, Illinois, outpost of ICE as Cookie Monster, a penguin, a cow and Winnie the Pooh.
No ruling from 9th Circuit
Sunday brought no decision from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on whether President Donald Trump may send troops to Portland.
It’s unclear when the 9th Circuit will rule, but it will likely come before this Friday, when U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut of Oregon has set a hearing on whether to extend her restraining orders barring the National Guard from Portland for another 14 days.
What we’re watching for this week
Protest organizers in Portland and elsewhere in Oregon are publicizing a “No Kings” rally for Saturday, Oct. 18.
Thousands of people joined a “No Kings” rally in Portland on June 14. That evening, Portland police declared a separate protest outside the South Portland ICE facility a riot.
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