Security Guard Orders Man To Remove His Jesus Shirt, Said It Was ‘Offending’ Shoppers

In what reminds me of the beginning stages of the silencing and persecution of dissenters in China during Chairman Mao’s revolution, a security guard was recorded telling a man wearing a “Jesus Saves” T-shirt that his shirt is “offending” shoppers at the massive mall in Bloomington, Minnesota, ordering the man to remove the shirt or leave the mall.

The confrontation took place at The Mall of America, Bloomington, MN, which has been criticized by conservatives for hosting and promoting a drag show for “all ages” last year in its “iconic rotunda.”

The First Amendment of the Constitution prevents Congress from making laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. It protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

But, the same guaranteed free speech protections typically don’t apply in the private sector.

Alpha News reported the confrontation that took place last weekend, citing videos published on social media.

The outlet linked to a pair of clips showing the man talking with security guards near the mall’s rotunda, and Alpha News added that one of the videos was live-streamed on Jan. 7 to Facebook.

The back of the man’s shirt reads “Jesus is the only way” and includes the well-known “coexist” symbol crossed out”, the outlet said.

“Jesus is associated with religion, and it’s offending people,” a security guard tells the man in one clip, adding that “people have been offended.”

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

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

The guard adds, “Again … I’m giving you a couple 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.”

In the second part of the same clip, the guard gets increasingly frustrated telling the man, “If you want to shop here, you need to take that shirt off!”

The man asks what’s wrong with the shirt, and the guard replies — with his voice still raised — that “it is religious soliciting; there is no soliciting allowed on mall property, which is private property!”

The guard adds, “We’ve had guests come up saying that they’ve been offended by your shirt … take the shirt off, and you can go shopping!”

Mall policies prohibit “inappropriate attire,” including apparel that “has obscene language, obscene gestures or racial/religious/ethnic slurs that are likely to create a disturbance.” The mall also forbids “picketing, demonstrating, soliciting, protesting or petitioning.”

Alpha News reported that some online commenters suggested the man eventually was allowed to remain in the mall with his shirt on, but the outlet added that Mall of America wouldn’t provide Alpha News with any context or explanation in regard to the incident.

In fact, the outlet said the mall didn’t respond to several calls and emails seeking comment this past week.

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