HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — Monday through Friday, Veronica Ramirez is found at apple sorting facilities in Hendersonville.

What You Need To Know

  • On July 12, Veronica Ramirez said she was kicked out of the pool at Flex Fitness in Hendersonville after the owner disconnected her speaker because she said patrons of the pool did not like the Spanish music that was playing 
  • The video of the police officers asking them to leave has been viewed thousands of times on TikTok and shared widely on Facebook
  • The owner of Flex Fitness has refused to comment on the incident to various media outlets
  • After the incident, Ramirez was evicted from the warehouse also owned by Flex Fitness where she taught a Zumba class several times a week

She's not employed at any of them. Instead, she makes protein shakes and herbal teas for the employees, some of whom are lifelong friends.

At her first location, Ramirez makes $80.  She packs up the ice bags, herbs cups and cooler while her 18-year-old daughter loads it in the backseat of their car. About a 15-minute drive away, they arrive at a fruit packing facility. 

Almost immediately, a worker waves to her from a side door, calling out her shake order. Ramirez sells the shakes for her income. 

She used to sell them after her Zumba class, which she taught at the warehouse next to Flex Fitness Gym in Hendersonville. For $8, she would teach an hour or more of Zumba and make you a shake. 

Ramirez paid $1,200 a month to rent the warehouse, barely making a profit each month. She says she did it for the sense of community and building relationships with the women in Henderson County. 

However, Ramirez lost her space at the warehouse in July after the owner evicted her following an incident at the pool, also owned by Flex Fitness. In a video that has been posted to TIkTok and Facebook, Ramirez is seen crying, sitting at the pool with friends and their children, while a police officer is telling them they have to leave the pool. 

Ramirez's friend is seen telling the officer they will comply, but are upset because the owner walked over to the area they were sitting at and disconnected their speaker playing Spanish music. Ramirez says the owner told them other patrons at the pool did not enjoy the Spanish music, and after disconnecting the speaker, asked them to leave. 

Ramirez says she was born in Mexico, but has lived in Henderson County for 20 years. She says she has never felt unwelcome as an immigrant until that day at the pool. 

A few days later, Ramirez returned to teach Zumba and found an eviction notice on the front door. National Hispanic media outlets covered the story, showing the video and stating the owner of the gym would not respond to their inquiries. 

Ramirez also refused interviews, but for Hispanic Heritage Month, she wanted to explain her side of the story and create awareness. She asks all Americans to treat each other with respect, asks for respect for her Hispanic roots and culture and hopes we can respect each other's diverse backgrounds.