A cat and a unicorn fist-bumped in the mass of protesters outside Michigan Central Station, and the unicorn referred to her presence as a form of patriotism.
It was the second, nationwide No Kings protest day to take place in Detroit to denounce the work of President Donald Trump, and it was speckled with such creatures — people in inflatable costumes — that are seemingly becoming a symbol of the ongoing anti-Trump movement. The unicorn said she’ll hang on to hers for just that reason going forward.
Dressed in what was actually an inflatable costume of a unicorn, Krista Wollam, 50, of Livonia, was one of thousands of people who attended on Saturday, Oct. 18, in Detroit to draw attention, find community and pressure leaders amid what protesters say is an increasingly authoritarian approach by Trump. Trump’s supporters, including Michigan Republican Party Chair state Sen. Jim Runestad, have decried accusations of fascism and the White House has called protesters’ concerns “lies.”
Amid the heavy topics, Wollam and her fellow fist-bumping attendee were among numerous protesters across metro Detroit who donned seemingly lighthearted outfits carrying a serious message from the movement.
And Wollam believes their outfits of choice may become an even more standout symbol of the anti-Trump effort going forward.
She, her fist-bumper and others donned inflatable or cloth costumes to fight back against Republican depictions of anti-Trump protesters as dangerous. Some GOP leaders also indicated ahead of time that No Kings was expected to involve a loosely organized group known as antifa that Trump has deemed terrorists; protesters also fought back against that idea.
The inflatable costumes were inspired by a Portland protester wearing a frog suit, who was sprayed by a federal agent with a chemical spray earlier in the month outside an immigration facility. Subsequent protesters who wore costumes on Oct. 18 said the outfits showed the absurdity of suggesting they were violent or involved with antifa.
Metro Detroit protests on Oct. 18 were observed as being largely peaceful, except for a brief incident in Detroit involving an apparent opposition agitator, who was subsequently arrested.
With national No Kings organizers slated to gather late Tuesday, Oct. 21, to plan the next steps in their movement, Wollam said her first protest this year — No Kings 2.0 — has inspired her to see what more she can do for the cause.
To that end, she’ll hang onto her unicorn getup as a potential Halloween costume but also for further protesting.
“Now it’s kind of a symbol of what we’re trying to accomplish,” she said, noting of the overall effort: “It’s a good starting point, but we need momentum.”
Here are some of the costumes the Free Press spotted at metro Detroit No Kings protests in October, along with what those wearing the costumes had to say:
Faith and Tony Gill, 60 and 61, of Dryden, bought frog hats just a few days before hundreds gathered on a bridge over the highway in Romeo.
The costumes point out the absurdity of bringing National Guard troops into cities, Faith Gill said. And her husband said it also shows protesters aren’t who their opposition claims.
“We’re supposed to be enjoying our retirement,” Faith Gill said. But they couldn’t just sit at home while worried about issues including immigration crackdowns, changes to Medicaid and Medicare, and the “loss of freedom,” the pair said.
A herd of unicorns attended the Detroit rally, it seemed, and Gena Cygnar, 50, J.D. Thomas, 61, and Bethany St. Andrew, 67, were among those who wore such inflatable unicorn costumes.
“This is a symbolic gesture and an homage to the Portland, Oregon, frogs and their effort to discredit the statements that Donald Trump, the outrageous statements that he’s made, that the protests are violent,” Cygnar said. “This is our way of showing up and making visible the lies that are being told. Showing up for peaceful demonstration of protest against this corrupt autocracy.”
“It was bright, and if anyone decided to jump me, honestly, it was kind of like: they’re going to be seen beating up a bee,” said Kate Martzolf, 43, of Warren, with a laugh about her costume at a Sterling Heights rally that drew an estimated thousands.
The issues are personal, Martzolf said. Her wife is an adoptee from Korea — an immigrant — and, as a lesbian, Martzolf is concerned that her marriage is being questioned. Immigration crackdowns, executive orders targeting the LGBTQ+ community and renewed discussion around same-sex marriage have been a concern of protesters this year.
Martzolf is also concerned with health care and capitalism, she said.
“This is patriotism to its core,” she said of her presence at the rally.
Amber Massa, 33, of Sterling Heights, marched in Detroit in an inflatable frog costume.
“It brings up the morale around me, seems to get people more engaged,” Massa said.
A 9-month-old short-haired, purebred Shih Tzu named Poppi wore a little frog costume at the late morning protest on Detroit’s east side on Oct. 18. The protest had roughly 300 people in attendance about 11:30 a.m.
Poppi’s owner, Nate Swanson, 46, of St. Clair Shores, said he already had the outfit before the costume aspect of protesting arose.
Swanson is concerned with issues including fascism, freedom of the press and the prosecution of political opponents.
“I hope more and more people wake up to the path that we are headed (down),” he said.
Kathleen Downing, 58, of Troy, was inspired by the protesters in Portland and donned an inflatable unicorn costume for the No Kings protest in her city, which saw some 2,000 protesters as of about 1:30 p.m. that day.
Downing has been going to protests since before the election, she said. The cuts and the near elimination of the federal Department of Education are a big concern for her.
She is also worried about rights and freedoms being taken away.
“Everybody needs freedom,” she said. “Everybody needs rights.”
Lynn Mullins, 55, of Utica, said she donned a Mr. Potato Head costume for the Sterling Heights protest because that’s what she considers the president — a potato head.
“He’s not very presidential,” she said.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: No Kings costumes that marked the day in metro Detroit: Unicorns, bees and frogs
Reporting by Darcie Moran, Natalie Davies and Finn Gomez, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
