Two black men were escorted by police out of a New Jersey LA Fitness for allegedly trespassing on the premises, even though they showed proof of having memberships.
In a Facebook post on April 16, Tshyrad Oates shared that he used a four day guest pass to workout with his friend, who was already a long standing member at the Secaucus, New Jersey location.
‘After about a half hour I was approached by this same employee telling me that I had to leave or pay and I explained to her that I just signed in with her with the guest pass,’ shared the Ashbury Park native on the post. ‘She stated that it was my friend who did not pay.
In a Facebook post on April 16, Tshyrad Oates (right) shared that he used a four day guest pass to workout with his friend, who was already a long standing member at the Secaucus, New Jersey location of LA Fitness
Oates claims that they were repeatedly harassed by staff (pictured) and management who said they didn’t pay to use the facilities. The branch also claimed that they weren’t members even though video shows their scanner flashing green when the man’s membership card goes over
Oates claims that his friend first explained the he was in fact a member at the gym, having just left his gym tag in the facility’s locker room.
And while the friend made note of how he felt racially profiled and embarrassed, the two continued on with their workout until two police officers arrived and asked why they had no memberships.
‘We explained to them about our guest pass and rescanned my friend’s member tag and it resulted in current active status,’ Oates stated, adding that the employee said nothing when they saw the status.
Proceeding on with their workout for an additional 10 minutes, Oates claims that the pair were then asked to leave by the La Fitness manager.
Throughout the video clips, the manager can be seen growing more irate and demanding that the camera stop recording. ‘I get it you guys don’t like cell phones but it is not criminal activity,’ an officer can be heard telling the manager (center)
‘Let’s make this a black thing,’ the friend said in one of the videos, panning the camera to show an almost empty gym. ‘We are the only two black people in the gym. Been having problems in the gym for months over nothing’
Informing him, once again, that they had memberships, five police officers were then said to have come and asked them to leave. .
Oates concluded: ‘This La Fitness manager who refused to give us his reason to kicking us out, and refused to give us his name stated that I was banned from the gym and my friend’s gym membership has been terminated effective immediately.’
In the video, Oates’ friend – who has not been identified – can be heard describing the altercation.
Oates concluded: ‘This La Fitness manager who refused to give us his reason to kicking us out, and refused to give us his name stated that I was banned from the gym and my friend’s gym membership has been terminated effective immediately’
He shares that he’s been a member at the gym for eight years and that the particular gym has had issues in the past with corporate.
‘Let’s make this a black thing,’ he said in one of the videos, panning the camera to show an almost empty gym. ‘We are the only two black people in the gym. Been having problems in the gym for months over nothing.’
Oates took to Facebook on Wednesday to share an update and that while he and his friend have contacted LA Fitness Corporate, they have ‘yet to receive any written statement from LA Fitness’
Throughout the video clips, the manager can be seen growing more irate and demanding that the camera stop recording.
‘I get it you guys don’t like cell phones but it is not criminal activity,’ an officer can be heard telling the manager.
‘All the officers acted professionally and quelled what could have been a volatile situation,’ Secaucaus Police Department Captain Dennis Miller told DailyMail.com.
Capt. Miller added that people are allowed to film officers in public spaces.
He also said that neither of the two men were arrested for the incident.
Oates took to Facebook on Wednesday to share an update and that while he and his friend have contacted LA Fitness Corporate, they have ‘yet to receive any written statement from LA Fitness.’
‘He has been called by staff and was told a number of things, but we can not be sure of the credibility of these calls unless we have written statements,’ Oates added.
LA Fitness could not be reached for a comment.
The original videos have now been shared over 32,000 times.
‘He has been called by staff and was told a number of things, but we can not be sure of the credibility of these calls unless we have written statements,’ Oates added