A man who “insulted” shoppers with a “Jesus Saves” shirt and was ordered to take it off or leave the Mall of America was eventually allowed to stay and keep the shirt on

A man who earlier this month “insulted” Mall of America shoppers with his “Jesus Saves” T-shirt — and who was ordered by mall security to remove the shirt or leave the premises — was eventually allowed to stay at the mall and keep your shirt on, the mall said.

“The guest mentioned in the video was approached by Mall of America security on January 7, 2023. A week earlier, he was issued a 24-hour trespassing ordinance for approaching guests. After a brief interaction, the guest did not have to change their shirt and was allowed to remain in the mall,” the mall said in a statement KARE TV.

What is the background?

Cellphone video captured the confrontation, in which a Mall of America security guard told the man his shirt would “offend” shoppers at the famously large mall in Bloomington, Minnesota – and the security guard ordered the man to take the shirt off or that to leave the mall.

Image Source: Facebook video screenshot via @Kameko Rawls, composited

what are the details

Alpha News – an independent company that reports statewide news that often goes unreported – wrote about the confrontation and linked to a Pair from clips shows the man speaking to security guards near the mall’s rotunda.

On the back of the men’s shirt is written “Jesus is the only way” and contains the well-known “coexist‘ symbol crossed out, the outlet said.

“Jesus is associated with religion and insults people,” a security guard tells the man in a clip, adding that “people have been insulted.”

The guard then tells the man to remove his shirt or leave the mall.

“But I didn’t say anything,” the man replies. “I didn’t say anything… I didn’t say anything. I just went to Macy’s.”

The attendant adds, “Again…I’ll give you a couple of options: Take off your shirt and you can go to Macy’s and do your shopping — or you can exit the mall, okay? Those are your only options right now.”

A second cut in the same clip shows the security guard getting angry as he tells the man sharply, “If you’re going to shop here, you have to take your shirt off!”

The man asks what’s wrong with the shirt, and the guard replies, his voice still raised, that “it’s a religious advertisement; No advertising is allowed on the property of the mall, which is private property!”

The warden adds, “We’ve had guests who said they were offended by your shirt…take the shirt off and you can go shopping!”

Here’s another clip that ends with the man in the Jesus Saves shirt punching another guard, and the man in the shirt and the guards split up. It is not clear from the video whether the man left the mall or not:

Alpha News said the mall prohibits “inappropriate clothing,” including clothing that contains “obscene language, obscene gestures, or racial/religious/ethnic slurs that are likely to cause disruption.” The outlet added that the mall also prohibits “picketing, demonstrations, solicitations, protests or petitions.”

Alpha News also said it repeatedly reached out to Mall of America for comment last week, but that the mall did not respond.

Anything else?

A group called the Bloomington Patriots to demonstrate plans at the mall on Feb. 4 and asks attendees to wear “Jesus shirts,” Alpha News said.

Coincidentally, the outlet added that the Mall of America provided and promoted a drag show for “all ages” in its “iconic rotunda” about a year ago.

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