Renea Gamble, a 62-year-old Fairhope, Alabama resident known as the 'penis grandma,' was acquitted on all charges stemming from her arrest at a No Kings protest. She wore a 7-foot-tall inflatable penis costume with a 'No Dick Tators' sign during the October demonstration against Donald Trump. The trial highlighted tensions between free speech and community standards in the elegant coastal town.
In October 2025, police officers in Fairhope, Alabama, arrested Renea Gamble during a No Kings protest along a suburban highway. Dressed in a flesh-colored inflatable penis costume and carrying an American flag, Gamble held a sign reading “No Dick Tators.” Officer Andrew Babb, the lead arresting officer, wrestled her to the ground, citing the costume's distracting nature to drivers and its inappropriateness for a family town. “This is a family town,” Babb told onlookers as he handcuffed her. Body-camera footage showed Gamble calmly questioning if she was detained before Babb grabbed her from behind without announcing an arrest. Authorities charged her with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, violating a city ordinance on breaching the peace, and providing false information after she identified as “Aunt Tifa.” She faced up to six months in jail. Officers had to remove the costume to fit her into their SUV before taking her to jail, where she was released on bail. Additional charges were added later, including the ordinance violation in February 2026. Gamble's trial took place in mid-April 2026 in Fairhope's municipal court, drawing about 80 spectators, including protesters with signs like “Free speech shouldn’t be so hard to swallow.” Witnesses testified to the protesters' peacefulness, and defense attorney David Gespass played body-cam video contradicting Babb's claims of volatility and safety concerns. Babb described the situation as a “brush fire” he aimed to prevent from becoming a “dumpster fire.” The judge dismissed the false-information charge midway and ultimately acquitted Gamble of all remaining charges, stating he could not conclude she committed any crimes. Supporters celebrated outside, with Gamble telling reporters, “As Alabamians, we dare defend our rights.” Fairhope, a city of about 23,000 known for its artsy charm and Southern manners in Baldwin County, has nonpartisan elections but lies in a deeply Republican area. Local reactions varied: some defended police loyalty, others saw it as a misjudged bid to avoid a lawsuit. Elizabeth Williams, a library advocate, noted the arrest amplified awareness among children, undermining efforts to shield them. Rebecca Watson of Moms for Liberty called the costume poor judgment near kids but hoped for justice if rights were violated. A week after the trial, Gamble announced plans to sue the city.
