A social media storm has erupted over a gym member being escorted off the premises of the Old Eds gym in Houghton‚ Johannesburg‚ for wearing an “inflammatory” T-shirt promoting the cause of the South African Boycott‚ Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) against Israel movement. Supporters of the movement are now threatening to visit Virgin Active gyms across the country with BDS T-shirts.BDS and pro-Palestinian activist Muhammed Desai went public on Twitter last night to denounce management of the Virgin Active SA. Desai said police were called to escort him out of the gym after a dispute over his T-short‚ which also endorsed the Young Communist League and the late Umkhonto we Sizwe leader Chris Hani.BDS South Africa member Muhammed Desai escorted out of Virgin Active in Houghton by police. http://t.co/935KY6XlFW— iainEWOKrobinson (@Ewokessay) August 13, 2015async The @YCLSA Chris Hani tshirt I was wearing & led to police being called by @VirginActiveSA to remove me from the gym pic.twitter.com/wsI5MMOUeu— Muhammed Desai (@MuhammedDesai) August 12, 2015async Follow-up tweets indicated that it was the BDS logo which had generated complaints from other members.Under fire for restricting freedom of speech in the twitter outburst that followed‚ Virgin Active said in a statement its policy was “for our health clubs to be neutral spaces in which members can pursue their health and wellness goals while‚ at the same time‚ accommodating the rights and freedoms of all members”. “We are not in the business of restricting speech or policing personal behaviour unless it contravenes the club rules‚ the law or carries some kind of threat to the safety of staff and members. In all instances we seek a negotiated solution to any perceived conflict. “The T-shirt worn by Mr Desai generated strong complaints from fellow members at the Old Eds club and he was politely requested by management not to wear it in future. He aggressively declined this request and said he would force entry if he was refused.“When he appeared at the club‚ clearly intent on making a political statement and generating confrontation‚ management were genuinely concerned about the potential consequences and called on the police to intervene.”Virgin Active said it had not previously experienced a similar situation and had learned “valuable lessons” from the encounter.“We need to make it clear that no legal item of clothing is banned from Virgin Active clubs but we would hope that members would understand the need for both tolerance and respect in this space. “We do not believe our clubs should be forums for contentious political activity.”The gym’s management would seek a meeting with Desai to discuss it further. Virgin Active SA also cautioned: “Any member who made provable threats on our premises of physical violence against Mr Desai‚ or any member on any occasion‚ will have their membership reviewed and possibly terminated.”Sympathies on Facebook and Twitter were skewed towards South Africans’ hard-won right to freedom of expression.Saaleha Idrees Bamjee posted this comment on Facebook: “Oh dear. Virgin Active SA has just escalated the issue with this statement. On what basis were the initial complaints against Mr Desai's t-shirt considered? How were the rights of those members measured against the rights of those exercising a constitutional freedom? That's the statement I would like the management team from Virgin Active SA to issue”.Laureen Bertin Azhar wrote‚ “Protecting our right to speak freely is critical‚ whether one agrees with the view being expressed or not. That is beside the point. The gym member was fully within his rights to wear his t-shirt in peace. The whole incident is shameful”.Amin Tayob said‚ “So virgin active wants to tell us what kind of political slogans I can and cannot wear on my shirt when I visit their gyms? It's a disgusting attitude on VA's part‚ do we not live in a constitutional democracy with freedom of expression?”Francois Van Dyk Leondios asked‚ “So if i wear a shirt that says stop killing farmers you will complain? get a life…”Shy Nabee commented‚ “We live in a diverse country that has come a long way from days like today. We should all be tolerant of one another”.Stephen S Melman said‚ “Coming from a Jew - I find this highly disgusting!!!!!!!! Since when is wearing any shirt a crime??? Last time i checked‚ this is freedom of speech!! Hypothetically speaking‚ If i walk into one of your gyms with an Israeli shirt‚ you are going to have me arrested??”Jocelyn C Roberts wrote‚ “Virgin Active needs to immediately ensure corrective training is given to the employees who felt they had the right to deny a paying customer access to the gym simply because he had a t-shirt on that someone disagreed with. Would VA deny access to a customer in an ANC‚ DA‚ or EFF t-shirt? I don't think so!”BDS supporters threatened to protest across the country’s Virgin Active gyms – and to wear their Tshirts as a sign of solidarity with Desai.Just got my @BDSsouthafrica sports shirt. Where's your nearest @virginactiveSA so I can go and get fit pic.twitter.com/bIub8Q8xIR— Abuti Bae (@alikomape) August 13, 2015async sha-ista @Ms_Darth commented‚ “Inside virgin active wearing the Palestine flag! Club rules violation or not?”.Free Palestine @I_motala said‚ “@virginactiveSA we have our rights of freedom u cn not stop us supporting @BDSsouthafrica”.Comrades from now on let's go to Virgin Active gyms with our ANC t-shirts on in solidarity with comrade @MuhammedDesai@BDSsouthafrica— Modern Day Pantsula (@Thabiso_Dlamini) August 13, 2015async Mohamed Feroz Soni said‚ “Maybe we should rally support and get Old Eds VA patrons to go to gym wearing BDS T-shirts. Are they gonna throw dozens of members out each day?”Haroon Wadee tweeted‚ “Tshirt on already on way. it less about BDS than it is about constitutional right to freedom of expression....Old Eds needs to train its staff‚ needs to apologize and ensure that the constitution is upheld”.The BDS group is well-known for its “flash protests” against retailer Woolworths‚ which it accuses of stocking Israeli products. Last year‚ Cosas placed a pig’s head inside a Woolies store in support of the movement. BDS is also threatening to picket singer Pharrell Williams for endorsing Woolworths’ education fundraising drive...