An Atlanta gym owner is not backing down after posting a sign barring cops from the premises.
Jim Chambers, owner of the EAV Barbell Club, got a lot of backlash over the sign, which read, “Do whatever the f*** you want, correctly, except crossfit cultism. No f***ing cops,” 11Alive News reported.
Chambers said he's has had a no police or active military policy since opening because many of those who use the gym are minorities and are uncomfortable with officers being there.
Chambers did take the sign down, but refused to apologize for posting it. He told 11Alive the vulgarity was what people objected to, and that he planned to put a new sign up without the foul language.
“Were we to respond to an emergency there, this sign would not stop us from lawfully doing our job,” the Atlanta police department told the news station.
Chambers responded, “If they have a warrant, they can go anywhere they want, but we’re not breaking the law (by banning police).” Chambers said the gym has never needed police to help them, and he doesn’t think they will ever need police there.
Lawyers told 11Alive that law enforcement officers are not a protected class by law, so only the courts could decide definitively whether the Atlanta gym was violating any laws by banning police and active military.
Twitter users wondered whether it was wise to alienate police and noted the gym owner's free speech rights to do so.
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