Cyclists rally against ‘militarization’ of Portland with emergency naked bike ride

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — As Oregon awaits the ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to decide whether the President can legally deploy the National Guard in Portland, the cold and rain did not stop an emergency naked bike ride protest from rolling through the city Sunday afternoon.

The event, organized by World Naked Bike Ride Portland began at the Oregon Convention Center Plaza in Northeast Portland in an effort to protest the “militarization” of the Rose City.

“The Military are being sent to protect ICE agents and their efforts in kidnapping indigenous, Latino and Hispanic people. Migrant workers are being targeted as are indigenous women and Palestine protesters. This event is to bring attention to these issues and to give voice for local protestors to speak at the start,” the group announced in a joint Instagram post along with Rainbow Bloc, Revoke the ICE Permit PDX and NakedHearts:PDX.

Although the ride was clothing-optional – and a few bared it for the cause – various attendees showed up in costumes and most wore only their undergarments.

“I strongly believe in the message behind it,” said cyclist Daniel March. “The naked bike ride is always about showing the vulnerability of the cyclists. Really, this time it’s showing the vulnerability of our citizens.”

“Our democracy and our freedom is at stake here,” added Millie Phillips. “We are not on fire, we are not burning. It’s just a peaceful protest.”

The protest comes as President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to Portland, where the president says “Antifa and the radical left anarchists” have been attacking federal officers outside of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.

A federal judge has since blocked these efforts to deploy troops twice, with a judge ruling on Oct. 4 that the Trump administration could not deploy the Oregon National Guard in Portland, saying, “This country has a longstanding and foundational tradition of resistance to government overreach, especially in the form of military intrusion into civil affairs.”

Judge Karin Immergut later wrote in the ruling, “This historical tradition boils down to a simple proposition: This is a nation of constitutional law, not martial law.”

The Trump administration filed an appeal, which is awaiting a ruling from a federal appeals court judge. But as of right now, troops from both Oregon and California are at guard bases in the area.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow this story.