Berkeley gym bars longtime patron who's applying for a job as a police officer, because "police are racist"

The gym's owners are all white. The patron is a "person of color."

Hi Mark,

I belonged for two years to a barbell and strength training gym in Berkeley, California, and was abruptly kicked out because I am applying for a job as a police officer.  The gym, Bay Strength, said they don't want to train anyone who is going to become a police officer, because police officers are "racists."  What's confusing to me is that the four owners of the gym are all white progressives and I am a "person of color."  I had known all along that they were liberal, but I had no idea that they could refuse me entry to their gym based on my choice of vocation.  For the last several years I have worked as an acupuncturist, and before that I lived for several years at Buddhist monasteries.  I thought that these strength coaches would see me as a positive force for change, but I was wrong.  They see me as a potential racist.  In an email to me, one of the owners of Bay Strength wrote:

"I cannot support you becoming a police officer in any regard....It would be a violation of my principles, and the gym's, to assist you in this particular journey....Both I and Bay Strength support the Black Lives Matter movement for racial justice. While the demands of that movement are broad, one of the key focuses is on dismantling systemic racism as upheld by the state, and includes the demand to defund the police. While I do not believe you harbor racist attitudes, that is the structure you will be expected to uphold as a police officer, and I personally cannot coach you to prepare for this role....If you ever change your mind, you are welcome to reach back out."

My friends wanted me to take legal action against them, but I don't have the energy or interest in that.  I thought, at the very least, I could let you know and maybe you could pass this along to your readers.  What would happen if a conservative gym kicked out someone for their progressive views?  I imagine it would be all over the MSM and the gym would be shut down.  But if you're a progressive, you can do anything, including kicking out a "person of color" because you don't agree with their career choice.  BTW, I hate the term "person of color."  I think it's an awful race-baiting term.  I do think systemic racism exists, and I've personally seen it unconsciously practiced by people on the left.  However, they are too horrified by their own shadow and they project that shadow onto the right.

I wanted to become a police officer so that I could serve my country, do good for my community, bring peace and kindness to high stress situations.

I’ve seen the damage that has been done by demonizing the police.  If we are speaking purely in the language of numbers, the CDC says that hospitals kill about 200,000 Americans every year, while it's agreed that the police shoot and kill about 2000 Americans per year.  If we are to follow the science here and look at pure statistics, why aren't we defunding the hospitals?  Why are we blaming the police for all of the problems in our society?  Over the past two years, I saw how many Americans were taught to hate the police, and I believe hatred and ill-will will only lead to more problems.

Several years ago, I was a guest lecturer for a semester at NYU Gallatin.  I was brought in to teach because I have over a decade of very intensive meditation practice.  It's a shame that the owners at Bay Strength don't want a seasoned meditator to be a part of law enforcement.  I can imagine that this would only be a good thing.

Anyway, I thought people should know that this sort of thing happens to everyday people like myself who have the best of intentions to serve their country and bring peace and well-being into the world.

Thanks for your time,

Vig Swaminathan