Naked Bike Protest Rolls Through Portland in Defiance of ICE

PORTLAND, Ore. — Demonstrators opposing the Trump administration turned heads in Portland on Sunday, staging an “emergency” edition of the city’s famed World Naked Bike Ride to protest efforts to deploy the National Guard in response to ongoing unrest.

The nude ride — typically held in the summer — saw hundreds of cyclists take to the streets despite chilly rain and temperatures in the 50s. Organizers said the event was meant to send a message of resistance against President Trump’s move to mobilize troops to control protests across the country.

Participants embraced Portland’s trademark mix of humor and defiance. Riders pedaled through downtown wearing little to nothing — some donning only helmets or whimsical costumes like inflatable frogs, unicorns, and bananas — while music blared from portable speakers.

“Joy is a form of protest. Being together with mutual respect and kindness is a form of protest,” organizers wrote on Instagram. “It’s your choice how much or little you wear.”

Janene King, 51, who wore only a wig, a hat, and wool socks while sipping tea in the rain, called the ride “a quintessentially Portland way to protest.”

“We definitely do not want troops coming into our city,” she said.

The riders’ route led them to the city’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building, where authorities ordered participants to remain on sidewalks or face arrest.

Portland continues to see daily demonstrations outside the immigration facility, where protesters — sometimes dressed in colorful or absurd costumes — have clashed with federal officers using tear gas and pepper balls.

A federal appeals court is expected to decide soon whether President Trump can proceed with the troop deployment after a judge issued a temporary hold on October 5.

Despite the cool weather, the event carried on a tradition that began in 2004. Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride regularly attracts thousands each year, blending protest, performance, and the city’s trademark eccentricity into one freewheeling expression of dissent.

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