“Antifa Penis Grandma” Started as a Joke. Then Came a Viral Arrest, a Trial, and a Case That Has Torn a Town Apart.
Renea Gamble, a 62-year-old grandmother from Fairhope, Alabama, was arrested and faced criminal charges after wearing a 7-foot inflatable penis costume to a No Kings protest in October 2025. The incident, captured in a viral video, sparked national attention and divided the typically peaceful and genteel community. Gamble was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and other offenses, with her trial becoming a focal point for debates over free speech and policing.
- ▪Renea Gamble wore a 7-foot inflatable penis costume to a protest in Fairhope, Alabama, holding a sign that read 'No Dick Tators.'
- ▪She was arrested by multiple police officers who cited the costume as inappropriate for the family-oriented town.
- ▪Gamble was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, breaching the peace, and providing false information after giving the name 'Aunt Tifa.'
- ▪The arrest video went viral, drawing national media attention and turning a local protest into a polarizing event.
- ▪Fairhope is known for its Southern manners and peaceful political culture, making the arrest particularly shocking to residents.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Illustration by Slate Politics The Trial of the Penis Grandma Fairhope has a reputation for grace and good sense. So how did a simple No Kings protest end with a Southern grandma facing jail time? By Molly Olmstead Follow Molly Signed Up For Email Alerts Error Signing Up For Email Alerts Close Enter your email to receive alerts for this author. Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. You're already subscribed to the aa_Molly_Olmstead newsletter. You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again, or manage all your newsletter subscriptions here . <div class="slate-notification--error"> Please enable javascript to sign up for newsletters.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Slate Magazine.