A group of demonstrators in Florida did push-ups and squats outside of a courthouse on Monday in protest of gym closures. The proteste...
A group of demonstrators in Florida did push-ups and squats outside of a courthouse on Monday in protest of gym closures.
The protesters, 30 or so of who gathered on the sidewalk next to the Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater, called for athletic facilities to reopen despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
GYM PROTEST: A group of protesters has gathered outside the courthouse in Clearwater, calling for gyms to reopen in Florida 8.wfla.com/2L9nDUQ
WATCH: Protesters calling for gyms to reopen in Florida are doing squats and push-ups outside the Clearwater courthouse 8.wfla.com/2L9nDUQ #Florida #COVID19
13.3K people are talking about this
Gyms across the state have been closed since last month after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued an executive order shuttering business deemed non-essential in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Although last week Florida began allowing select businesses to reopen, gyms were not among those included in the first phase of the reopening plan.
The protest, which also included American flags and signs that read “we are essential,” ended up getting roasted online.
Gym bro stereostypes and jokes flooded Twitter, with many noting that the group had ironically created a gym on the sidewalk.
“They are proving you can workout outdoors,” @mamatica007 said.
GYM PROTEST: A group of protesters has gathered outside the courthouse in Clearwater, calling for gyms to reopen in Florida 8.wfla.com/2L9nDUQ
WATCH: Protesters calling for gyms to reopen in Florida are doing squats and push-ups outside the Clearwater courthouse 8.wfla.com/2L9nDUQ #Florida #COVID19
“You just know that every single one of these people is ‘that guy’ at the gym who bangs out those useless, tiny-range-of-motion chin ups and never re-racks the weights,” @summerasana said.
GYM PROTEST: A group of protesters has gathered outside the courthouse in Clearwater, calling for gyms to reopen in Florida 8.wfla.com/2L9nDUQ
You just know that every single one of these people is “that guy” at the gym who bangs out those useless, tiny-range-of-motion chin ups and never re-racks the weights.
See Summer Sandiego's other Tweets
WATCH: Protesters calling for gyms to reopen in Florida are doing squats and push-ups outside the Clearwater courthouse 8.wfla.com/2L9nDUQ #Florida #COVID19
Protesters calling for gyms to reopen do squats, push-ups outside Clearwater courthouse 8.wfla.com/2zsZ2rs
The Venn diagram between them and people who refuse to wipe down gym equipment after they use it is probably a circle.
See Kathryn *sew yourself masks* Brightbill 
's other Tweets
's other Tweets
Some questioned the group’s dedication, arguing that just push-ups and squats are hardly sufficient for a good work out.
“Not a single burpee seen in that video,” @soneillmorris said. “They aren’t serious.”
WATCH: Protesters calling for gyms to reopen in Florida are doing squats and push-ups outside the Clearwater courthouse 8.wfla.com/2L9nDUQ #Florida #COVID19
Protesters calling for gyms to reopen do squats, push-ups outside Clearwater courthouse 8.wfla.com/2zsZ2rs
Protesters calling for gyms to reopen do squats, push-ups outside Clearwater courthouse 8.wfla.com/2zsZ2rs
here’s a photo of me protesting coffee shops being closed by brewing my own cup and saving myself five bucks
See Jorge Ribas's other Tweets
In all fairness, doing push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and other bodyweight exercises are not going to provide the same benefit as resistance training with weights. That being said, I think we can all agree that missing out on the gym is a small sacrifice to make given the circumstances.
A small number of people did, however, appear supportive of the effort. At least one person seemed willing to show up, but not before chugging their pre-workout drink, of course.
“I TOOK 2 SCOOPS AND IM ON THE WAY BOYZ,” @o_bwilly said.
GYM PROTEST: A group of protesters has gathered outside the courthouse in Clearwater, calling for gyms to reopen in Florida 8.wfla.com/2L9nDUQ
Small protests similar to the one in Florida have popped up across the country in recent weeks.
While some prefer push-ups, others have opted to open-carrying defunct rocket launchers while ordering Subway sandwiches in protest of stay-at-home orders.
No comments