A cellphone video appearing to show a security guard at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota demanding a man to either take off his “Jesus Saves” t-shirt or leave the mall has gone viral on social media, prompting concerns that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is under siege.
Alpha News covered the incident, which reportedly occurred on Jan. 7.
Another person in the mall recorded the exchange on a live Facebook video.
The man’s shirt featured the infamous left-wing “coexist” symbol crossed out, instead reading, “Jesus is the only way.”
“Jesus is associated with religion and it’s offending people,” a security guard tells the man in the video. “People have been offended.”
The security guard then informs the man he can either lose the shirt or be kicked out.
“I didn’t say anything though. I didn’t speak. I didn’t say anything,” replied the man. “I just went to Macy’s.”
I automatically assumed this was overseas, but it's right here in America. pic.twitter.com/Q79eUCG7xh
— John Mason (@LivingGodsTruth) January 12, 2023
“Again, I’m giving you a couple of options. You can take the shirt off and you can go to Macy’s and you can do your shopping. Or you can leave the mall, OK?” commanded one guard. “Those are your only options right now.”
The customer was accused of “religious soliciting,” a practice banned by the mall. The man repeatedly asserted that he was engaging in no such thing.
He notably was kicked out of the mall for doing that another day, according to a report by BizPac Review.
However, the man maintained he was just walking around in this instance.
“Yes, you’re walking wearing that shirt in the form of soliciting and we’ve had guests come up and say they’re offended by your shirt,” said one of the guards.
Alpha News reported that the Mall of America put on and promoted a drag show for “all ages” last year. At the time, a Minnesota-based nonprofit called the event “shameful” and scolded the Mall of America staff for “think[ing] it’s a good idea to bring in perverts…” around children. More on that can be found here.
