A New Jersey gym owner defied his state’s lockdown orders and reopened his gym.
Atilis Gym members cheered as owners unlocked the gym’s door at 8 a.m. on Monday morning, a local ABC news affiliate reports.
Gym owners say they are taking extra safety measures. They are capping capacity and have posted signs reminding people to practice social distancing. Equipment is spaced out and there are bottles of disinfectant to clean machines.
Co-owner Frank Trumbetti posted a video online to explain why he is reopening despite Gov. Phil Murphy's shutdown order.
"We would like to get all the support we can all day long. We would love to fill the parking lot by 8 a.m. and allow members in, in accordance to the safe distancing guidelines, to get their workout in in a timely fashion, and have them stick around all day as a sign of solidarity for our rights as citizens," he said.
He said he takes the threat of the coronavirus seriously and is nearly in tears as he explains his mother is in the hospital with the virus.
He wants his reopening to spur a peaceful, organized reopening of the entire state. He called for other businesses to open their doors, too.
"We truly believe that if we don't do this, in the end, we will have zero rights and no say in what happens," he said.
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