New Jersey gym owners, who were arrested for defying shutdown, kick down gov't-installed barriers to reopen

The owners of embattled Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey, were arrested on Monday for reopening their gym in defiance of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's lockdown order. The arrests came after a judge ruled New Jersey could forcibly shut down the gym.

However, Murphy couldn't keep the gym owners down for long.

On Saturday, just days after being released from jail, owners Ian Smith and Frank Trumbetti kicked down government-installed barriers to reopen the gym.

"Gov. Murphy has weaponized the police force against us over and over," Smith said, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. "I think he looks foolish, the way he's treating us — he's pulling out all the stops. You have to ask, how far will one man go to destroy a small business?"

Atilis Gym has faced an uphill battle since defiantly reopening in May. Law enforcement has forced the gym to shut down several times.

In fact, the government is so determined to keep the gym closed that, according to the Inquirer, Bellmawr officials will consider revoking the gym... (Read more)

https://twitter.com/jimwalsh_cp/status/1289523074686234624

Latest News