Alley Cat Books, located in the heart of San Francisco's Mission District, is ordinarily a quiet space for book lovers to peruse multicolored shelves for their next literary adventure. But on Sunday, the small bookstore buzzed with energy as a group of leggings-clad Bay Area residents protested Donald Trump's presidency in the form of a sweaty cardio workout. <\/p>\n
\"We are here because in this era, in this nation, we need to use our full bodies to resist fascism!\" cried Margaret McCarthy, one of two organizers of the event. <\/p>\n
\"This is a wonderful example of bringing levity and community to the resistance.\" <\/p>\n
The group was assembled for a rigorous hour of Anti-Trump Aerobicsthe final event in an artist- and activist-organized series called 100 Days Action. The calendar of events, which kicked off on January 20 with an Inaugural Ball, responded tit-for-tat to the Trump administration's activities in its first 100 days. Events included Hats for Science, where participants knitted caps for the Science March, and Black Lives Matter at ATA, a film night about racial justice in honor of Black History Month. The night before the aerobics event, the collective also threw a 100 Days No Ban Dance Party, featuring music from the seven countries targeted in Trump's blocked travel ban. <\/p>\n
\"This is a wonderful example of bringing levity and community to the resistance,\" said Vanessa Schneider, an aerobics participant, before the session. \"I really hope it includes some of Trump's specific movements, so I can expand my repertoire of gestures.\" <\/p>\n
\"Who doesn't want to sweat a little bit while you laugh?\" another participant, Rachel Fairbanks, added. <\/p>\n
McCarthy, a performance artist, and Liat Berdugo, an artist, writer, and assistant professor at the University of San Francisco, led the attendees in an uproarious routine involving Democratic-blue sweatbands, Trumpian red ties, and rhythmic slogans. <\/p>\n
\"Don't buy Ivanka's shoes!\" McCarthy called out, marching to the beat. \"Don't buy Ivanka's shoes!\" the participants echoed. <\/p>\n
\"Fuck Mar-a-Lago!\" she continued, swinging a tie like a golf club. \"Fuck Mar-a-Lago!\" they mimicked. <\/p>\n
\"Don't read his tweets,\" Berdugo said in hushed voice, using the tie to shield her eyes. <\/p>\n
Each new slogan ended with cheers and whoops. <\/p>\n
\"The session did a great job of highlighting Trump's weird affectations, both physical and verbal,\" Schneider said at the end of the workout. <\/p>\n
As the session wound down, McCarthy and Berdugo asked each participant to knot their red ties together to form a large circle. <\/p>\n
\"Art can provide oxygen in a situation where it feels like there is no oxygen,\" said Ingrid Rojas Contreras, a 100 Days Action organizer, as the attendees picked up their bags and headed back, rejuvenated, into their Sunday afternoons. <\/p>\n
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See the article here: Alley Cat Books, located in the heart of San Francisco's Mission District, is ordinarily a quiet space for book lovers to peruse multicolored shelves for their next literary adventure. But on Sunday, the small bookstore buzzed with energy as a group of leggings-clad Bay Area residents protested Donald Trump's presidency in the form of a sweaty cardio workout Continue reading
\nExercise Your Freedom of Speech With Anti-Trump Aerobics ... - Mother Jones<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"