Video: 'Jesus Saves' shirt is 'offending' Mall of America shoppers, security guard says — and he orders man to remove shirt or get out of the mall



Cellphone video captured a confrontation involving a Mall of America security guard telling a man wearing a "Jesus Saves" T-shirt that his shirt is "offending" shoppers at the famously large mall in Bloomington, Minnesota — and the guard ordered the man to remove the shirt or leave the mall.

What are the details?

Alpha News — an independent outfit that covers news across the state that often goes unreported — said the confrontation 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 livestreamed Jan. 7 to Facebook.

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

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @LivingGodsTruth

“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 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."

A second cut in the same clip shows the guard getting angry as he sharply tells 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!"

\u201cI automatically assumed this was overseas, but it's right here in America.\u201d
— John Mason (@John Mason) 1673536746

Here's another clip that ends with the man in the "Jesus saves" shirt giving a fist bump to different guard, and the man in the shirt and the guards part ways. It isn't clear if the man left the mall or not:

Alpha News said the mall prohibits “inappropriate attire,” including apparel that “has obscene language, obscene gestures or racial/religious/ethnic slurs that are likely to create a disturbance.” The outlet added that the mall also disallows “picketing, demonstrating, soliciting, protesting, or petitioning.”

Alpha News also 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.

Now a group called Bloomington Patriots plans to demonstrate at the mall Feb. 4 and is asking attendees to wear “Jesus shirts," Alpha News said.

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

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Minnesota's Mall of America offers free retail space for women- and minority-owned businesses impacted by riots



The Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, is providing free store space to some retailers who were impacted by riots across the city as well as by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Star Tribune report on Tuesday.

What are the details?

The outlet reports that the mall is offering up free, temporary retail space for 17 women- and minority-owned shops that have been impacted by rioting or the coronavirus pandemic.

The spaces will remain free for the 17 businesses for at least six months.

One store owner who will benefit from the new program is Spencer Puckett, who said he was forced to close his south Minneapolis store "several times this year" because of the riots spurred on by the police killing of George Floyd on May 25.

Puckett said that the offer is a "great opportunity."

"I didn't expect for [the Mall of America] to do this," Puckett added.

Store owner Jasmine McConnell said that the new program could help boost her store's reputation.

"There are so many larger stores that are well known in the Mall of America," she said. "To give 17 vendors the opportunity to be on that same platform — and it's free — it's the biggest opportunity ever."

Starting Thursday, Puckett's business — along with 16 others — will be set to occupy a 5,000 square-foot space previously occupied by an apparel store.

Jill Renslow, Mall of America's executive vice president of business development and marketing, told the outlet, "We recognize these businesses have [gone] through a tremendous amount of hardship, whether they were directly impacted physically from the arson or the looting destruction that was taking place or just the sense of lost business."

According to the outlet, the mall began scouting areas impacted by rioting and the coronavirus to determine how it could "partner with small businesses hurt by the civil unrest that erupted after the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd."

What else?

Fox Business reported that the retail space "will include a variety of stores ranging from apparel to accessories to food and beverage to personal care and family gifts."

"One of the stores relocating to the space, Urban 29, had a two-year run before being decimated by riots," the outlet added.

"Back in May, my storefront was destroyed in the riots," store owner of Joyce Sanders told the outlet. "It was looted and set on fire. I lost everything."

In a statement to Fox Business, Renslow said:

The Community Commons initiative is one of hope and possibility as Mall of America joins the efforts to help rebuild the hearts, minds and livelihoods of our diverse retail community. We are proud to welcome these businesses to Mall of America where guests will be introduced to an even greater slice of what our retail community has to offer beyond the doors of Mall of America.