Congratulations to the Portland Protesters

 

In making recommendations to immigration advocates, I suggested a symbol and a song:

Make it something catchy and easily learned that becomes the signature tune of the movement. (The Civil Rights Movement had "We Shall Overcome.") Make it something that conveys moral authority. In the case of immigration, that means assuring people of your allegiance. For that reason, songs in Spanish, with a Mexican beat, are dangerous, just as the Mexican flag is dangerous. Make it something that comes from the heart. I get that these two things may be in tension -- a song vowing allegiance to the US may come across as insincere, especially given how the US is behaving now.

The Portland approach never occurred to me, but I have to say it checks all the boxes.

Cute, inflatable animal costumes are definitely catchy.  They solve the question of how to get people's attention without angering them.  They easily go viral.  They are memorable.  They certainly come from the heart and are sincere and authentic.

And they do convey moral authority.  When you see ICE beating someone in a cute animal costume, it will be hard to portray the person in the cute costume as the aggressor.

The only problem I can see is that the disguise may make it easy for provocateurs to infiltrate a protest.