A Bellmawr gym that has repeatedly defied Gov. Phil Murphy’s shutdown order is now a Republican rallying site.

The co-owners of Atilis Gym said that the gym would become a political location for Rik Mehta, who is challenging Sen. Cory Booker for his seat in the United States Senate.

Co-owner Ian Smith says that the gym is choosing to support Mehta because Mehta supports small business owners like himself who are trying to make a living during the pandemic.

Atilis Gym faces $130,000 in fines and over $15,000 in fines per day for staying open for indoor-training during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though the governor ordered all gyms to remain closed.

The co-owners have become heroes of a sort to the many people who think that Murphy’s executive orders to stop the spread of the virus are going too far.