In a viral video, a man wearing a ‘Jesus Saves’ T-shirt was ordered to take it off by security guards at the Mall of America who told him he was “offending” people. According to the Daily Mail, a security guard from the Minnesota mall could be heard in the video saying, “If you want to shop here you need to take off that shirt.” In another clip, the guard said, “Jesus is associated with religion and it is offending people. People have been offended.”
The man who was approached can also be heard in the video confused as to why he was being asked to leave the mall. He said that he was not attempting to preach, noting that he did not speak or say anything, but simply just walked into Macy’s. Still, the security guards demanded that he either remove his shirt and continue shopping, or leave the mall.
According to the Daily Mail, the officer cited the man to be in violation of the mall’s policy to not allow “‘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 prohibits “picketing, demonstrating, soliciting, protesting or petitioning.” The security guard claimed that the man was engaging in “religious soliciting.”
This was not the first time this man has been approached by security to leave the mall. He was asked on a different day to leave the mall because he was preaching, but this time, he was reportedly just walking around.
The incident, which took place on January 7th, is sparking outrage among some, and now, groups in defense of the man are planning to protest at the mall wearing their own ‘Jesus Saves’ T-shirts. A group called, Bloomington Patriots, are planning to demonstrate on February 4. On Twitter, responses to the post included one who was surprised that such an incident would take place in America, and another who shared that if he ever goes to the Mall of America, he will wear “the biggest Jesus shirt” he can find.
A spokesperson for the Mall of America said, “The guest referenced in the video was approached by Mall of America security on January 7, 2023. One week prior, he was issued a 24-hour trespass for soliciting guests. After a brief interaction, the guest was not required to change his shirt and was allowed to remain at the Mall.”