Portland restaurant offers ‘free beer for frogs’ this weekend amidst No Kings protests

Protestors have been taking to the streets to rail against the Trump administration, with many donning inflatable animal costumes. However, residents are divided over a local Portland restaurant giving free beers to activists dressed as frogs, with some saying it doesn’t help the cause. db reports.

The ‘No Kings’ protests have been unfolding across the US in response to the increased activities of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under Donald Trump’s administration. Also known as the ‘No Dictators’ or ‘No Tyrants’ protests, the peaceful rallies aim to highlight what protestors call the “authoritarian policies” of the current President.

Something that the protests have become known for is the number of attendees wearing inflatable costumes, with activists dressing up as everything from clowns and unicorns to frogs. This unusual aesthetic is due to the crowdfunded organisation Operation Inflation, which has purchased more than 150 inflatable costumes and is giving them away for free.

“Donald Trump is trying to say that this is a war zone. Donald Trump is trying to say that he wants to invoke the Insurrection Act. He wants to send troops down here to squash the terrorists,” Jordy Johnson from Operation Inflation told KOIN 6 News.

“And we want to make it clear that this is not a war zone and that if he wants to invoke the Insurrection Act, he’s going to have to point at people in inflatable chickens and inflatable frogs and inflatable unicorns.”

Johnson added: “We also want to make people know that they can be a part of this. This is not a dangerous place. This is just people standing up for the immigrants in our community and standing against Donald Trump.”

Operation Inflation is working to distribute the costumes “as quickly as we can”.

Free beers for frogs

The No Kings protests are expected to reach Portland, Oregon, on Saturday 18 October, and one local restaurant has announced plans to hand out $3 beers to anyone dressed in an inflatable costume and free beers to anyone specifically dressed as a frog.

“Ribbit ribbit. We will be running a special this Saturday for the ‘No Kings’ movement. $3 beers all day if you dress up in an inflatable animal costume. And FREE beers for anyone dressed up in an inflatable frog costume”, reads an Instagram post by sandwich shop Lardo.

However, the stunt has received mixed responses.

One follower commenting underneath Lardo’s post wrote: “Can I ask – since these frogs and all the other costumes wouldn’t be around if it wasn’t for these people out there kidnapping our communities, how is this helping the people affected? Could it be that y’all give free beer to those who show a time stamped donation to an organisation helping immigrants, or some other actionable thing?

“Because without any mention of why these frogs are here to begin with, or what it’s doing to so many in the industry, this feels like another case of performative Portland protestors…making it seem like a fun thing while the reality for many of us – your neighbours, employees, colleagues etc – is that we are afraid to even step out of our front doors right now.”

Team frog

Others appreciated the effort to support thirsty protestors, commenting “Love this so much! Team frog!” and “This is the best! Way to support the cause!”

A fan of the restaurant wrote: “You are one of the few small businesses to show the courage to stand with us and the People of our grand city, as the Feds assault our ability to govern ourselves. See you on No Kings Day.”

“The joint’s going to be hoppin,” wrote another diner.

One commenter issued a word of caution to Lardo owner, Rick Gencarelli.

“Way to go, Rick. Beware drunken amphibians.”

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