ROSEMARY ABBOTT | National
CRACK DOWN CONTINUES
Sophie Campbell, a 27-year-old CrossFit enthusiast, found herself in hot water today after unwittingly becoming one of the first people targeted under New Zealand’s newly enacted gang patch ban.
The Wellingtonian was proudly wearing a black hoodie emblazoned with the name of her premium CrossFit gym, Urban Fitness and was stopped by police while walking through Lambton Quay.
The law, introduced just yesterday, was aimed at curbing gang intimidation in public spaces. However, authorities have swiftly widened its scope to include anyone displaying “potentially provocative branding,” such as CrossFit gym logos that, according to police, evoke “cultish loyalty, physical intimidation, and the potential to inspire unwarranted lunges in public.”
Campbell, a graphic designer and part-time yoga teacher, said she was “stunned” when the officers approached her.
“They asked if my top symbolised any ‘affiliation,’ and I said, ‘Yes, I do CrossFit.’ Suddenly, it was like I had just confessed to some kind of drug trafficking operation,” Campbell said, visibly shaken.
“One officer actually said, ‘These logos can intimidate people who don’t work out.’ – I mean, come on. If I intimidate someone, it’s not because of what I’m wearing—it’s because I can hold a plank longer than they can hold a conversation.”
More to come.
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