Plans underway to float inflatable Trump chicken across San Francisco Bay during far-right rally

Rally organizers inflate a Trump Chicken before Tax Day rally in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, April 15, 2017. Rally organizers inflate a Trump Chicken before Tax Day rally in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, April 15, 2017. Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Plans underway to float inflatable Trump chicken across San Francisco Bay during far-right rally 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

Plans are underway to float a massive inflatable chicken resembling President Donald Trump across San Francisco Bay during a far-right rally at Crissy Field on Saturday.

A GoFundMe campaign to raise money for a barge rental, crew and other chicken-related expenses surpassed its initial goal of $5,000 Thursday morning, 15 hours after being posted.

"These alt-right Nazi sympathizers want to use the symbol of the Golden Gate Bridge to promote their cause and we're not going to let them do it," says Danelle Morton of Vallejo, one of the organizers of the event. "We're going to photo bomb them so every time someone tries to take a picture the Trump chicken is there."

Morton and her peers also helped organize the April 15 Tax March in San Francisco where the 30-foot-fowl first appeared in front of City Hall, during the protest demanding the president release his tax returns.

Morton wanted a mascot for the event, and while browsing the website Alibaba, she came across an inflatable chicken designed by Seattle artist Casey Latiolais for Year of the Rooster lunar celebration.

Groups organizing other Tax Marches across the country purchased balloons in various sizes as well and the Trump Chicken became a symbol of discontent aimed at the 45th President. One of the plucky inflatables appeared outside the White House on Aug. 9 (see video above).

Morton says the chicken's purpose is to make people laugh during what she calls a "period of oppression."

"So many people I know are saying I can't listen to the news anymore, I can't tolerate that," Morton said. "But you can't do that if you really care about the country. You have to fight for what's right but you get exhausted. Humor engages you and puts you back in power."

"You might feel oppressed, but if you can stand back and say look at these stupid jerks with their pomposity you get to laugh and you don't let them define the world."

The campaign was initially launched on Wednesday night with a goal of raising $5,000. After that amount was reached, the goal was increased to $8,000. As of Thursday morning, $6,355 had been donated from 239 sources.

The plan is for a boat to carry the chicken into the bay before the right-wing rally starts at 2 p.m. and continue to float around for at least four hours.

The National Park Service's approval of a permit for the rally was controversial, with San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee saying he was disappointed the rally was allowed to proceed. According to the San Francisco Chronicle:

"The event, described in the permit application as a 'free-speech' rally for about 300 people, runs from 2 to 5 p.m. Patriot Prayer has insisted it does not promote racism or bigotry, trying to distance itself from white supremacists who gathered in Charlottesville before an antiracism protester was killed, but the group's past events have drawn people espousing hateful views.

"Several groups have organized counter-demonstrations on Friday and Saturday, including at least one march on Crissy Field during the permitted rally."