By John Q. Hosedrinker 
In response to President Trump’s mischaracterization of Portland as a violent and chaotic city, local residents have embraced a unique form of protest. These activists are countering Trump’s rhetoric by dancing and wearing costumes in front of federal law enforcement, challenging the president’s narrative of fear. The creative protests serve to refute Trump’s claims and demonstrate a lack of intimidation. Fact-checking efforts and statements from local officials, like Mayor Keith Wilson and Governor Tina Kotek, further expose the inaccuracies of Trump’s statements about the city’s conditions.
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Portland’s dancing protesters are showing us how to stand up to Trump, not just with their actions, but with a powerful understanding of how to disarm the forces of authoritarianism. It’s an approach that relies on humor, absurdity, and a refusal to take the bait of escalating violence. This isn’t about ignoring the severity of the situation; it’s about recognizing the power of the absurd to expose the ridiculousness of their opponents.
This approach is brilliantly illustrated by the Portland protesters’ use of costumes, like the now-iconic frog suit, and theatrical displays. The fact that they can make the absurd look and feel like a normal protest tactic is part of the magic. It’s a deliberate strategy to make the “war” narrative that some groups attempt to establish look ridiculous, and it’s working. Imagine the optics: national guard troops facing off against people in inflatable costumes. The image alone speaks volumes, highlighting the complete absurdity of the claim that these protesters are a threat.
The key is that this is not just about humor; it’s about undermining the very foundations of the opposition’s power. Fascism, as has been said, doesn’t have a sense of humor. It thrives on intimidation, fear, and a carefully constructed narrative of threat. By embracing the absurd, Portland’s protesters are effectively denying them the fuel they need to maintain their power. They’re forcing their opponents to confront their own ridiculousness.
This strategy is particularly effective because it forces the other side to react, and in doing so, they expose their true nature. Trying to shut down a dancing protest with force, or demonizing people in costumes, only serves to highlight their own insecurity and authoritarian tendencies. The fact that the protesters can make their movements lighthearted, and peaceful, shows they aren’t afraid to make the establishment look silly.
The creativity of these protests goes beyond just costumes and music. Vendors in Chicago, for example, locking out ICE, or people following them, blowing horns, demonstrates a strategic understanding of disruption and solidarity. It’s about making the opposition’s actions more difficult, and making their lives a bit more uncomfortable, by the means of peaceful protest.
This approach to protest should be seen as a powerful tactic. They are not just resisting; they are doing so with a style that aims to create a contrast that’s impossible to ignore. The right-wing’s attempt to paint protesters as terrorists is easily undermined when the protesters are seen in silly, bright costumes, dancing and singing, or handing out white flowers to show their good faith.
The idea is to refuse to get drawn into their cycle of anger and violence. Instead, the protesters in Portland are choosing to meet provocation with humor, creativity, and a refusal to be intimidated. They’re showing that resistance can be joyful, expressive, and even a little silly. The goal is to make sure that the opposition cannot win with the tactics they are used to.
It’s important to understand that these tactics aren’t a replacement for more serious forms of protest or organized political action. They’re a complement. It can be done in combination with organized action. The most effective movements are multi-faceted, employing a range of tactics to achieve their goals.
There’s also an understanding that the opposition relies on controlling the narrative, on creating and flooding algorithms with misinformation. The playful nature of these protests makes it more difficult for the opposition to create a single, simple narrative to demonize the protesters.
The protests also make an important point about the role of culture and expression in political movements. Emma Goldman famously said that the revolution should include dancing. Portland’s protesters, with their inflatable costumes and musical numbers, are demonstrating how to bring joy and creativity into the struggle. They’re reminding us that resistance can be empowering and fun, and that the forces of oppression can be defused through sheer absurdity.