Operation Inflation

Warning: May cause excessive laughter, unity, and democracy

Created by Lexanne Leonard posted to The 50501 Facebook group

🐸 From Portland’s Frog to the National Stage

You’ve probably seen the viral frog by now. In Portland, a protester in an inflatable frog suit became a wholly unforgettable symbol. He stood beforeICE. Our brave frog was even pepper‑sprayed through the vent of his suit.

What started as a frog in a costume has spiraled into Operation Inflation, a movement to reclaim protest space using inflatable animals, mythical creatures, and surreal clothing attire. Protesters are now showing up as frogs, unicorns, dinosaurs and turning the administration’s response into spectacle.

These outfits challenge escalation and have allowed us to show the media what is really happening contrary to what Trump and his administration have claimed. This destroys the narrative that protesters must be grim and destructive. They force eyes, cameras, bystanders, and media to see the absurdity of heavy force against resistant creativity.

Why Dress Loud?

Throughout history, resistance has spoken through creative outfits:

- Civil Rights activists in their Sunday best, turning dignity into demonstration

- Suffragettes in white and sashes

- Protesters in Drag Nuns, costumes, theatrical robes

- Tute Bianche wearing padded white overalls for protection and visibility

- The Handmaid’s Tale robes symbolizing bodily control and state power

In a nation filled with cameras, protest dresses for its own media.

Jessica Cohen at Secretary Watt’s speech at American University on February 10, 1983

From Selma to Stonewall to the steps of state capitols, protest has always been a visual language as much as a political one. Clothing has long been used to reclaim power, demand visibility, and disrupt expectations whether it was civil rights leaders dressing in dignity, suffragettes turning white into a battle flag, or activists using drag, robes, or padded uniforms to challenge authority and protect one another. What we wear can elevate our statement. In the age of cameras and viral imagery, costume is a strategy. On October 18th, as streets fill with inflatable creatures and outlandish creativity, we’ll be continuing a long, proud tradition of resistance that refuses to blend in.

Counter-inaugural demonstration during Nixon’s second inauguration on Jan 20, 1973

This No Kings Day let’s outdress every previous protest.
Let the costumes be fun, satire, creative and revolutionary.

Do you plan on wearing an inflatable? Let us know or leave us a picture in the comments!

Inflatable Creatures Make Force Look Ridiculous.

No Kings Crown | No Kings in the Face of Tyranny.

By Heather Kline

Some practical notes:

• Make sure your costume allows you to move freely and safely so it’s not a tripping hazards or blocking your vision.

• The U.S. flag belongs to the people, not to fascism. Displaying it proudly is an act of reclamation.

• Plan for weather and comfort: rain layers, padding, and breathable fabrics make a long day sustainable.

• Props amplify your message. Lights, umbrellas, hats, jewelry, signs, small details that make you stand out if you’re wanting to make a big statement.

• If you wear an inflatable, bring repair tape or a spare battery pack.

Protest visuals shift the frame from confrontation to creativity and from anger to art. Absurdity disarms aggression. A colorful crowd is harder to vilify than a uniform one.

When we show up dressed boldly we’re reframing what power looks like. We’re proving that resistance doesn’t need to be violent or joyless to be effective. Imagination itself can become defiant and that’s what Operation Inflation is helping us to remember.

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We are Almost to Saturday!

I want to give a big shoutout to all of the incredible organizers who do their best to make these protests as safe as possible for everyone wanting to exercise their first amendment rights. Click here to read about you Right to Protest.

These massive national day of protest is not spontaneous, it’s built through thousands of deliberate acts of coordination. There is much more that goes into organizing large and safe protests than many people realize. Across every state, organizers have been working around the clock to make No Kings 2.0 possible. They’ve secured permits, created safety networks, trained marshals, set up communication hubs, printed materials, planned transportation routes, and briefed volunteers. They’ve done it while juggling jobs, families, and the constant pressure of being watched by the very systems they’re protesting.

Most of their work will never make headlines or trend, it is often a thankless and exhausting role. They are a big reason these protests unfold with purpose.

And behind every organized protest, there’s an entire invisible network of incredible people who make it safe.

The marshals, who calmly guide crowds and de-escalate tension when it starts to rise.
The medics, carrying backpacks full of bandages and saline if anyone needs it.
The legal observers, who stand quietly at the edges with clipboards, documenting everything so no one’s rights are forgotten.
The safety coordinators who check routes, hydration stations, and accessibility points before a single chant begins.
The booth operators and volunteers handing out learning materials, voter guides, and flyers that turn energy into education.
The drivers and dispatchers, sign makers, chanters and street artists who keep morale high and logistics smooth.
The speakers who stand before the crowd to remind everyone why we’re here.
The musicians who turn that purpose into a beautiful energetic rhythm.

They are the quiet architects of order and the ones who make it possible for thousands to gather, speak, and go home safely. Sending a heartfelt thank you to all of the many organizers and organizing team members across the country.

Before you raise your sign tomorrow, take a moment to recognize them. The people who’ve spent weeks turning idea and vision into reality and for motivating and engaging their communities by turning hope into organized structure.

You can also read a personal message from Amber, the 50501 Co-founder by clicking here.

Protest Tip from Leni Khayra on Facebook: Gorilla tape & elastic on the back of the sign makes it super easy to wave & your hands don’t cramp holding it. I’ve had dozens of ppl come up to me saying it’s genius. Easy to dance with too!

Gorilla tape & elastic on the back of the sign makes it super easy to wave & your hands don’t cramp holding it. I’ve had dozens of ppl come up to me saying it’s genius. Easy to dance with too! | Link to the post

Why We Say “No Kings”

The United States was born out of resistance to King George III, a ruler who taxed, punished, and silenced colonists without giving them representation. When revolutionaries broke from the monarchy in 1776, they were rejecting the entire idea that power should ever flow downward from a throne.

That rejection shaped everything that followed. Our founders built checks and balances, term limits, and the separation of powers to prevent the rise of another “king” in any form including political, corporate, or ideological. No Kings is the foundation of self-government. Leadership must always remain accountable to the people.

The phrase “No Kings” has returned because the warning has returned. Concentrated power that sees itself as above the law, is exactly what America’s founders risked their lives to prevent. Saying No Kings is how we protect our country from the return of fascism.

When we dress up, march, and speak out on No Kings Day, we’re continuing a 249-year tradition of resistance to tyranny.

No Kings. No Dictators. Not then. Not now. Not ever.

By Terri Bell - Click here to view post