An “emergency” naked bike ride is set to take place in Portland, Oregon, after President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to the city.
Trump deployed the troops last month to quell unrest and to protect “law and order.”
The organization behind the naked bike ride is an offshoot of the Portland World Naked Bike Ride, a group that holds naked bike rides in Portland as a form of protest.
“As a long-standing protest, we believe strongly in the power of people, and love that Portlanders use bikes (and sometimes their bodies) to stand up for justice and community,” Portland World Naked Bike Ride said in a statement on Thursday.
The group had said on Wednesday that an “emergency” bike ride was “coming up in response to the militarization of our city. Plans are being worked on.”
Oregon has sued the Trump administration over the deployment of the National Guard, and lawmakers have told the government such troops aren’t necessary. Gov. Tina Kotek (D-OR) protested the deployment on Portland’s streets and on social media last Sunday.
“Today, I was in downtown Portland walking peacefully with Oregonians to say that we don’t need military intervention here. We are peaceful. We are united. We are Oregon,” Kotek wrote on X.
Trump said Wednesday that Kotek was living in a “dream world.”
TRUMP DECRIES ATTACKS ON ICE OFFICERS DURING NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT TO PORTLAND
“Portland is a NEVER-ENDING DISASTER. Many people have been badly hurt, and even killed. It is run like a Third World Country. We’re only going in because, as American Patriots, WE HAVE NO CHOICE. LAW AND ORDER MUST PREVAIL IN OUR CITIES, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE!” he posted on Truth Social.
Trump also said that National Guard troops were already present in the city, though reporting there shed doubt on his claim. The troops aren’t expected until later this week.
