A confrontation involving a Mall of America security guard and a patron in a shirt displaying a “controversial” message was captured on video. According to the guard, the T-shirt was “offending” other shoppers and that’s when he gave the guy an ultimatum, demanding he follows his orders or else.
A cellphone video captured a confrontation involving a Mall of America security guard and an unnamed man, who apparently engaged in a dispute over the man’s attire. Although many details are unknown, Alpha News — an independent outfit made up of a team of independent journalists who cover news that often goes unreported — said the confrontation took place during a weekend at the famously large mall in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Citing videos published on social media, the newsgroup alleged that the security guard told the man that his T-shirt, which read “Jesus Saves,” was “offending” other shoppers. He then ordered the man to remove the shirt or leave the mall, The Blaze reported. Both news outlets linked to a pair of video clips, showing the man in the “Jesus Saves” shirt talking with security guards near the mall’s rotunda. One of the clips was live-streamed to Facebook, according to Alpha News.
As seen in the video footage, the back of the man’s shirt reads, “Jesus is the only way” and includes the well-known “coexist” symbol crossed out. That seems to be a problem for the allegedly “offended” shoppers, according to the security guard who confronted the man over the message on his shirt.
“Jesus is associated with religion, and it’s offending people,” an unnamed security guard tells the man in one clip, adding that “people have been offended.”
The man is then given an order by the security guard. He can remove his shirt or he can leave the mall, but he is not welcome to remain with his “Jesus Saves” message displayed. The man is, of course, confused by the request and questions why the security guard is making such demands.
“I didn’t say anything, though,” the man replies to the guard’s demands that he remove the shirt or leave. “I didn’t speak …. I didn’t say anything. 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
The security guard continues to insist that the man comply, adamant that the “offensive” shirt has no place at the mall, where it’s allegedly “offending” others. In one of the clips, the guard even begins to get angry, sharply telling that man that he cannot shop in his “Jesus Saves” shirt.
“Again,” the guard says, “I’m giving you a couple [of] options: take the shirt off, and you can go to Macy’s, and you can do your shopping — or you can leave the mall, OK? Those are your only options right now.” The guard also angrily demands, “If you want to shop here, you need to take that shirt off!”
As the man questions what’s wrong with the message on the shirt, the guard responds with his voice raised, alleging that “it is religious soliciting,” which isn’t allowed.
“It is religious soliciting; there is no soliciting allowed on mall property, which is private property!” the guard alleges, adding, “We’ve had guests come up saying that they’ve been offended by your shirt … take the shirt off, and you can go shopping!”
One of the clips ends with the man in the “Jesus saves” shirt giving a fist bump to a different guard before the man in the shirt and the guards part ways, but it isn’t clear if the man left the mall or not. According to Alpha News, some online comments suggested that the man was allegedly allowed to remain in the mall with his shirt on, but Mall of America wouldn’t provide the outlet with any context or explanation in regard to the incident.
They did go on to report that Mall of America, which has hosted and promoted a drag show for “all ages” in its “iconic rotunda,” prohibits “inappropriate attire,” including apparel that “has obscene language, obscene gestures or racial/religious/ethnic slurs that are likely to create a disturbance,” adding that the mall also disallows “picketing, demonstrating, soliciting, protesting, or petitioning.” Does this particular shirt fit the bill? You decide.
