Readers Respond To East Atlanta Gym's 'No Cops' Sign

ATLANTA, GA -- An East Atlanta gym is getting some unwanted attention after its owner posted a vulgar sign banning law enforcement. Patch ran the story Thursday and since then, the owner has changed the sign, removing the expletive as he said he would -- but it still says "No cops."

EAV Barbell Club on Flat Shoals Avenue on the city's southeast side has had the sign for a while, but a news story from WXIA-TV drew attention to it. (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

"It was really just that the vulgarity in that sign, and that seems to bring it out for people," Jim Chambers told WXIA-TV. The owner, a longtime political activist, said that members of the military can't come to his gym either.

Many police officers have expressed that the sign would have no bearing on them doing their jobs if someone inside the establishment needed their help. But one police officer from nearby Fayetteville has challenged Chambers to a boxing match.

"He seems like he might enjoy getting the opportunity to punch a cop in the face and I'd be happy to oblige him and give him that opportunity," Police Officer Tommy Lefever told the TV station.

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Patch commenters shared mixed feelings on the gym's sign. One commenter said: "As a privately owned company, Chambers is perfectly within his rights to exclude non-protected classes from membership. And the police and military are not a protected class. Go figure. Chambers is not, however, protected from the results of his exclusion. A campaign to boycott his facility, and / or a picket line until he is run out of business would be a suitable reaction."

Another commenter said this: "A lot of cops are power hungry azzholes that spend most of their time looking for ways to bust you. You're confused if you think they are your friend. Punks with chips on shoulder and a badge. What could go wrong?"

Do you have strong feelings about the sign in front of the gym? Tell us in the comments.

Image via Craig Johnson / Patch