Among the thousands who took part in Arizona’s “No Kings” events were protesters dressed in costumes ranging from animals to pop culture icons, using creativity to redefine what it means to protest peacefully.
Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets across Arizona and the nation to oppose President Donald Trump’s agenda during the No Kings rallies.
At a well-attended gathering in the Phoenix area, participants wore inflatable costumes of squirrels, raccoons, cats, sharks, frogs and unicorns, frequently stopping to pose for photos with others.
Here’s a look at the different costumes and characters that took to Arizona streets to protest the Trump administration.
Frogs, bananas and Kenny
At the Arizona Capitol, dozens of people were seen wearing themed costumes.
Venessa Nevarez walked through the crowd in a full-body inflatable Kenny costume from “South Park,” the oversized hood bobbing with every step.
“No kings! Canada has a king too!” Nevarez declared, gesturing with her mittened hands.
Nevarez’s protest was playful but pointed and wrapped in pop culture and satire.
Phoenix resident Janell Kider Weaver, 59, wore a green T-Rex costume.
“I really look up to the protests in Portland, how they keep it super peaceful and happy,” Weaver said.
“People see the costume and start dancing a little. It’s an energy thing.”
Michael Walker, 36, of Gilbert, wore a vibrant tie-dye shirt and a lower-body chicken inflatable that made it look like he was riding a giant bird.
“Donald Trump does not represent Jesus. Donald Trump does not represent peace, love, or anything along those lines,” Walker said.
But not everyone wore an inflatable.
In Scottsdale, Rich Heinrich wore an Uncle Sam inspired outfit, while his wife, Denise Heinrich, wore signs calling out Trump’s connections to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“Geezers, get out there and fight for your country. Everybody, every age. You’re not too old to resist,” said Denise Heinrich, 73.
She and her husband stopped regularly to take a photo with eager protesters.
Why are people dressing in costumes for ‘No Kings’ Day?
A viral incident in Portland showed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement protester being pepper-sprayed by police — an act activists say only fueled the trend of protesters wearing costumes.
In Portland, Operation Inflation distributed free inflatable costumes to protesters, Brooks Brown, an activist who helped create Operation Inflation, told USA TODAY.
“We were watching the news on that and how the rhetoric around all of it shifted,” Brown said. “It wasn’t some ‘violent antifa protester’ who gets maced, but instead frog.”
Following the incident, Operation Inflation began supplying costumes to protesters at no cost, leading to more participants dressing up, Brown said.
Brown said the shift has influenced how the demonstrations are perceived.
In protest: Thousands rally and march at Arizona Capitol for ‘No Kings’ Day
USA TODAY reporter Julia Gomez contributed to this article.
Rey Covarrubias Jr. reports for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email him at: rcovarrubias@gannett.com, and connect with him on Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and X (formerly Twitter) at @ReyCJrAZ.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Here’s a look at the costumed protesters across Arizona on ‘No Kings’ Day
