The owner of a gym in Atlanta is coming under fire after posting an obscene sign outside his business that states in part: "No f------ cops."
The sign, which has since been removed, appeared outside of EAV Barbell Club on the east side of Atlanta, according to 11Alive. The full sign said: "Rules: Do whatever the hell you want, correctly, except Crossfit cultism. No f------ cops.”
The notice started to gain attention after a military veteran saw the message and reported it to media outlets.
Jim Chambers, the owner of the gym, told 11Alive he took responsibility for the sign and wanted the message to be clear.
“We’ve had an explicitly stated ‘no cop’ policy since we opened, and we also don’t open membership to active members of the military,” Chambers told NBC4i.
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Chambers said law enforcement agents were not allowed in his business because their presence made his minority clientele uncomfortable.
The Atlanta Police Department did not comment on the ban but said, “Were we to respond to an emergency there, this sign would not stop us from lawfully doing our job.”
Chambers added: “If they have a warrant, they can go anywhere they want, but we’re not breaking the law."
Chambers said he would put the sign back up at some point but claimed that he and his clients would not need the help of law enforcement in the future.
“It was really just that the vulgarity in that sign that seems to bring it out for people,” Chambers told 11Alive.