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Photos: ‘No Drama Llama’ spreads calm at BLM protest site in Portland

Since May this year, Portland in the American state of Oregon, has been the site ongoing anti-racism and demonstrations and protests against police brutality like several major cities in the country. But standing out at the protest site in Portland is an unusual character named Caesar McCool, a six-year-old llama who’s been doling out hugs to people regardless of whether they’re demonstrators or law enforcement agents. Caesar has turned something of a sensation, spreading comfort at a time when tensions have been running high.

Updated on: Aug 09, 2020 11:30 AM IST

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Lyra Conley hugs Caesar McCool, a therapy llama nicknamed the ‘No Drama Llama’ at the site of ongoing protests against police violence and racial inequality in Portland, US on August 6. In Portland, where anti-racism protests have sometimes turned violent, Caesar McCool stands out from the crowd to bless demonstrators and law enforcement with soothing hugs. (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 09, 2020 11:30 AM

Lyra Conley hugs Caesar McCool, a therapy llama nicknamed the ‘No Drama Llama’ at the site of ongoing protests against police violence and racial inequality in Portland, US on August 6. In Portland, where anti-racism protests have sometimes turned violent, Caesar McCool stands out from the crowd to bless demonstrators and law enforcement with soothing hugs. (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

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Caesar McCool is guided across the Hawthorne Bridge by his handler Larry McCool to the protest site in Portland on August 6. Caesar, a six-year-old llama, has become a fixture in the city, extending his woolly neck to nuzzle both Black Lives Matter activists and law enforcement officers in body armour lining up to take selfies with him. (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 09, 2020 11:30 AM

Caesar McCool is guided across the Hawthorne Bridge by his handler Larry McCool to the protest site in Portland on August 6. Caesar, a six-year-old llama, has become a fixture in the city, extending his woolly neck to nuzzle both Black Lives Matter activists and law enforcement officers in body armour lining up to take selfies with him. (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

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Rebecca Laudarji takes a selfie with Caesar McCool, in front of a memorial for Black Americans killed by police in Portland on August 6. The former Argentine grand champion show animal, standing 5 feet 8 inches at about 160 Kg, is unusually friendly for a llama, making him a natural peacemaker, his owner, Larry McCool, who runs the Mystic Llama Farm in Jefferson, Oregon told Reuters. (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 09, 2020 11:30 AM

Rebecca Laudarji takes a selfie with Caesar McCool, in front of a memorial for Black Americans killed by police in Portland on August 6. The former Argentine grand champion show animal, standing 5 feet 8 inches at about 160 Kg, is unusually friendly for a llama, making him a natural peacemaker, his owner, Larry McCool, who runs the Mystic Llama Farm in Jefferson, Oregon told Reuters. (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

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Caesar McCool and his handler Larry McCool share a moment at the site of ongoing protests against police violence and racial inequality in Portland on August 6. Caesar may not speak, but knows more than you think, McCool said. (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 09, 2020 11:30 AM

Caesar McCool and his handler Larry McCool share a moment at the site of ongoing protests against police violence and racial inequality in Portland on August 6. Caesar may not speak, but knows more than you think, McCool said. (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

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Protesters share a moment with Caesar McCool in Portland on August 6. On June 9 about 5,000 people laid down or knelt at bridge near downtown Portland for nearly nine minutes of silence to honor George Floyd. “Caesar stood there, motionless, just like this. He understood the moment. He understood the importance of what we were doing,” McCool said. “(He) did not move an inch that whole time.” (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 09, 2020 11:30 AM

Protesters share a moment with Caesar McCool in Portland on August 6. On June 9 about 5,000 people laid down or knelt at bridge near downtown Portland for nearly nine minutes of silence to honor George Floyd. “Caesar stood there, motionless, just like this. He understood the moment. He understood the importance of what we were doing,” McCool said. “(He) did not move an inch that whole time.” (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

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Federal officers take a break from their duties to greet Caesar McCool as he is guided by his handler Larry McCool in Portland on August 6. Caesar guides everyone to a higher path by showing up at various social justice rallies, McCool told Reuters. (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 09, 2020 11:30 AM

Federal officers take a break from their duties to greet Caesar McCool as he is guided by his handler Larry McCool in Portland on August 6. Caesar guides everyone to a higher path by showing up at various social justice rallies, McCool told Reuters. (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

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A bridge operator hugs Caesar McCool while he's guided home by his handler Larry McCool from the site of ongoing protests against police violence and racial inequality in Portland on August 6. (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 09, 2020 11:30 AM

A bridge operator hugs Caesar McCool while he's guided home by his handler Larry McCool from the site of ongoing protests against police violence and racial inequality in Portland on August 6. (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

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Caesar McCool and his handler Larry McCool head home after a day spent at the site of protests against police violence and racial inequality in Portland on August 6. “As intense as the public is, the protesters and the federal agents and the marshals, ... he actually can defuse that very much. That’s his whole purpose,” Larry McCool told Reuters. (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 09, 2020 11:30 AM

Caesar McCool and his handler Larry McCool head home after a day spent at the site of protests against police violence and racial inequality in Portland on August 6. “As intense as the public is, the protesters and the federal agents and the marshals, ... he actually can defuse that very much. That’s his whole purpose,” Larry McCool told Reuters. (Nathan Howard / REUTERS)

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