About two dozen people in 1980s workout attire gathered outside a federal ICE office in Portland’s South Waterfront on November 9 for a “Sweatin’ Out the Fascists” aerobics session hosted by Fulcrum Fitness. Federal officers later appeared on the roof with pepper-ball launchers as nearby confrontations unfolded, according to local reporting.
Roughly 20 to 25 activists staged an aerobics workout outside Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s South Waterfront field office on Sunday, November 9, adopting neon leotards and other ’80s-themed gear for a playful protest billed as “Sweatin’ Out the Fascists.” Portland Mercury documented the event and estimated the turnout at about 20, while KOIN described it as roughly two dozen participants and identified Fulcrum Fitness as the host.
A Fulcrum Fitness coach, Eric Plevin, said the effort was meant to highlight democracy and due process through a creative, community-centered action, according to KOIN. During the session, an instructor shouted, “It’s time to sweat out the fascists!”—a line Portland Mercury reported was delivered over a microphone to the cheering crowd.
The demonstration also served as a pointed contrast to recent federal rhetoric. In late September and October, Trump administration statements and coverage by national outlets described Portland and some ICE facilities as “under siege” by Antifa, language that drew pushback from local officials. Participants said their aim was to show Portland as a “fun‑loving city,” not a city “on fire,” Portland Mercury reported.
Halfway through the workout, federal officers appeared on the building’s roof carrying pepper-ball launchers. Reporting from both Portland Mercury and KOIN said officers fired pepper balls toward people camping or gathering closer to the facility’s gate, while the aerobics group continued without interruption. A transport bus was also seen moving through the loading area during the event, the outlets noted.
The aerobics protest follows a string of whimsical anti-ICE actions at the same site—including inflatable frog costumes, Latin dance classes, and crochet circles—documented by local media. In other recent demonstrations outside the ICE office, federal officers have used tear gas and pepper balls to disperse crowds, according to the City of Portland and local reporters.
Clarification: The Portland site functions primarily as an ICE field office and processing location, not a long‑term detention center, as shown in an October media tour by KTVZ. Organizers said the aerobics event reflected Portland’s tradition of creative protest; KOIN also reported they collected donations for the Oregon Food Bank.