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Many Voices, One Freedom: United in the 1st Amendment

March 28, 2024

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A few months into the Covid pandemic, Governor Phil Murphy continued to keep fitness centers, movie theaters, and casinos shuttered. The owners of many small businesses were looking at the possibility of losing everything they had spent their lives creating. After two months of remaining closed, gym owners Ian Smith and Frank Trumbetti made the difficult decision to defy the governor’s executive order and reopen their gym. Upon reopening Attilis Gym in Bellmawr, NJ, the police arrived to serve notice that they were in violation of the order. They remained open.

Over the following days, pressure increased, and news media coverage multiplied. National attention began showering down on the gym as a divided country cheered them on, and others disagreed with their decision. The gym had to take extreme measures to keep the gym functioning each day. They put in safety measures to assist in the comfort of their customer’s safety and experience. Largely ignored by those critical of the gym, was the fact that there were sincere measures to keep people safe, and patrons were exercising their personal freedom to attend. They made an informed consent to be in the gym.

The battle continued for months, with fines of over $3 million levied against Attilis owners. During this time, gym co-owner Ian Smith began doing more interviews on news media. His social media multiplied, and he began to give voice to national issues of other shuttered businesses around the country. His social media influence grew to over 1 million, tuning in to what he was sharing. He became the poster image for the fight against mandates and executive orders.

He found his hill to climb or die on. Whether you agree with his politics or not, one can easily admire the fortitude of Ian on behalf of his gym and all Americans. Many have painted him as Alt-Right, but he identifies as a libertarian. This characterization is intriguing to those paying attention to the misalignment of views in modern politics. Ian and I spoke for over an hour to better get to know him and his cause. He has a book coming out in a few weeks, “Find Your Hill.”  www.findyourhill.com

Ian Smith was willing to die on his hill. Are you willing to die on yours?

Image: AP

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  • Greg Boulden

    Greg Boulden is an objective critical thinker, licensed school teacher, and recipient of multiple awards in both industry and his personal life. Greg is the host and managing editor of the podcast, “America Emboldened with Greg Boulden,” which is a part of the America Out Loud network. His podcast focuses on understanding individual sovereignty and critically thinking in an immersive news cycle full of slant and distraction. For almost 25 years, Boulden has worked extensively in the industries of TV/Film, Music, Photography, Pastoral Care and Counseling, and Youth Ministry. He currently works at Thomas McKean High School in Wilmington, DE, where he runs a career technology education pathway to help teens build skills and find jobs in Audio, Radio, and Video Broadcasting. He was a sound designer for Dorian Gray the Musical, which was awarded Best New Show at the New York Music Festival.
 Boulden is a graduate of DeSales University. He is annually recognized as a highly effective teacher, and students seem to think he’s a good dude. And don’t get him started on his affinity for Mrs. Robino’s Restaurant. 
 Distinguished Graduate Award from the Diocese of Wilmington. Best New Show Award at the New York Music Festival for Sound Design And many awards and acknowledgments for his volunteer efforts with Habitat for Humanity, working in community outreach efforts, and offering his time to build a better future for our youth.

MANY VOICES, ONE FREEDOM: UNITED IN THE 1ST AMENDMENT

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