In Portland, Oregon, a protester known for participating in nonviolent demonstrations against the Trump administration’s policies has been wearing a frog costume for several months. Recently, a journalist spoke with the individual, identified as Seth Todd, about their motivations and views.
“I come out here day in and day out since June because I am worried about my community,” Todd stated. “I am concerned with what is happening in my community. I don’t want to see anyone treated inhumanely.”
Todd expressed strong disapproval of the Trump administration’s deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and other federal agents in Portland. The administration has described the city as “war-ravaged” and “under siege from attack by Antifa,” a term used to refer to protesters opposing fascism. However, local reports indicate that these federal agents have been escalating violence, using tear gas and pepper balls to suppress protests near an ICE facility.
A recent incident saw a federal agent filmed spraying pepper spray into the air vent of Todd’s inflatable frog costume. Todd emphasized his concern for the well-being of his community, stating, “I don’t want to see anyone treated inhumanely and to see this happen to my community members, my friends, my family, my neighbors.”
The Telegraph, a right-wing news outlet, highlighted some of Todd’s social media posts, including one where he self-identified as a “little gay nonbinary toad and proud Antifa terrorist.” However, the newspaper did not mention any acts of violence committed by Todd. In response to the administration’s efforts to label anti-fascist groups as domestic terrorists, President Trump signed an executive order last month asserting his authority to designate such groups as domestic terror organizations.
A family member of Todd was quoted as saying, “I’ve talked to him over and over again about it, if you want to protest, that’s fine. Let’s do it peacefully.”
Todd explained that the frog costume is intended to challenge the narrative that protesters are violent terrorists. “It’s just to showcase how that narrative is wrong and does a lot more damage than good,” he said.
Local media reported on the ongoing situation in Oregon, where a Trump-appointed federal judge recently blocked the president from deploying the National Guard in Portland. The Oregonian noted the presence of various animal costumes at protests, including frogs, a unicorn, a polar bear, and others, among about 100 regularly dressed protesters. While the night’s events were largely uneventful, rooftop officers used pepper ball guns when protesters approached them closely.
Another demonstrator, who has worn a chicken costume during protests, told Willamette Week that the use of such attire helps counter the Trump administration’s strategy of instilling fear. Jack Dickinson, the chicken-clad protester, said, “By coming out in an absurdist manner, it speaks to them, to some extent, that we’re actually not that afraid. It also dismantles their narrative a little bit.”
Dickinson added, “It feels like we’re winning this. They’re not getting the footage they’re looking for. They look ridiculous.”
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