WASHINGTON — As people take to the streets for the "No Kings" protests Saturday, many are wearing inflatable costumes, but where did the trend start and why?

Supporters say the costumes lower tension and draw attention without violence. The tactic started in Portland, Oregon, during U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests and spread across the country.

National protest organizers encouraged attendees to bring funny signs and wear silly costumes to keep the mood light during the event.

"They want us to be violent," protester Claudia Schultz, wearing an inflatable pig costume, told the Miami Herald . "You can’t get any less violent than this."

This form of protest, while not entirely new, gained traction in recent weeks as photos of protesters in frog, chicken and unicorn costu

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