Ian Smith, co-owner of Atilis Gym in Belle Marble, N.J., had a huge win. New Jersey courts dismissed all 80 charges against him stemming from his bold decision to reopen gyms in direct defiance of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s authoritarian COVID-19 lockdown orders.
The saga began in May 2020, when Smith reopened Atilis Gym, challenging Murphy administration directives that he and his supporters argued were unconstitutional and detrimental to small businesses.
The conflict escalated in July 2020 when police forcibly arrested Smith after he continued to violate the state’s shutdown order.
A group of police officers burst through the doors of Atilis Gym in Belle Mare, New Jersey, and arrested the gym’s owner for violating Governor Murphy’s authoritarian closure order.
“Well, that’s a first,” Dowlan posted on Facebook. “I was at the gym overnight writing and my book clients Ian and Frank had just woken up and I was gathering my computer and notebooks and just waiting for them to come out and answer a few final questions and then a large group of Camden County Sheriff and local Bellmawr police (K-9 unit waiting in the car) burst through the door…and came to me and I sat there alone writing. First of all, the law enforcement officers were polite and courteous. Find my video clip on the national channel today. Late/this morning I’m writing a new chapter of this book!
watch:
#Forward @TheAtilisGym #iansmith #athilisgym
Welcome to the America of 2020, where raising a family and standing up for your constitutional rights are illegal. @govmurphy Finally showed off his little bully muscles – and it only took 70 days. pic.twitter.com/Re24pEAlvt—(@TheNiniD) July 27, 2020
The state’s positive response didn’t end with the arrests. In a controversial move, Governor Murphy and his administration withheld $165,000 from the gym’s account – funds that Smith claimed were raised through donations and clothing sales to support the gym’s legal battle. The action was a punitive strike intended to weaken the gym’s finances and serve as a stern warning to others who might consider similar acts of defiance.
“Governor Phil Murphy today seized 100% of our assets – $165,000, all of which came from donations and apparel sales. This is being done in ongoing litigation and we are defending ourselves against these fines, our 80 charges, the revocation of our business license and the unconstitutional health department closure to control,” Smith said. Film Statement January 2021.
On Saturday, Smith announced that the court was dismissing all charges with prejudice. This means that the state has completely barred the re-filing of the charges against Smith and Atillis Jim, marking a final victory for small business owners and a stark rebuke of Governor Murphy’s authoritarian tactics.
Smith didn’t mince words, directly challenging Governor Murphy with a phrase that has since become widely circulated: “Fuck Phil Murphy.”
Smith made the following statement on X:
Four years ago today, we reopened Atilis Gyms in direct violation of Governor Philip Murphy’s unconstitutional order to close small businesses in New Jersey.
I will be forever grateful for the support our stand has received locally, nationally and internationally.
Having said that, I am pleased to announce that we have achieved a significant victory in our long and hard-fought battle against the government.
The court dismissed with prejudice all more than 80 municipal charges of violating the governor’s orders, disturbing public order, disturbing the peace and operating without a license. This means the state does not have the ability to reopen or refile the charges.
This victory once again opens the battlefield and gives us the option to continue to fight back against the treasonous actions of Phil Murphy and his lackeys and bring them to justice.
Thanks again to everyone who supports us. We couldn’t have done this without you.
Special thanks to our fearless attorneys – John McCann and Giancarlo Ghione. Some of the nation’s best-known attorneys fled our cases – knowing it would be a long, difficult road that would put them in the spotlight. These two gentlemen stayed with us through the darkest days of the storm, never holding back and never caring about gaining notoriety for their work in front of the camera.
There will be more updates later.
No one will come to save you, save yourself. Spit on hand, raise black flag. There are no quarters.
Suck my cock Phil Murphy.
Important Announcement – Please share this post.
Four years ago today, we reopened Atilis Gyms in direct violation of Governor Philip Murphy’s unconstitutional order to close small businesses in New Jersey.
The support we receive locally, nationally and internationally…
— Ian Smith (@iansmithfitness) May 18, 2024
