(NewsGlobal.com)- According to reports, Mall of America security threatened to expel a shopper for wearing a shirt with a Christian message that was deemed offensive.
In a viral video on Twitter, a mall cop confronted a man wearing a yellow shirt with the phrases “Jesus Saves” and “Jesus is the only way,” along with a crossed-out Coexist symbol.
The security guard instructed the man to leave the mall or remove his shirt because Jesus is associated with religion and offends people. The mall security officer explained that the association of Jesus with religion offends people. He can remove his shirt and go shopping at Macy’s or leave the mall. He told the man that those were his only options. The guard raised his voice and told the man that he must remove the shirt if he wanted to shop there.
A Mall of America spokesperson said the man was issued a 24-hour trespass for soliciting guests a week before the Jan. 7 video was filmed, despite his denials of soliciting or harassing mall-goers.
The policies of the mall prohibit customers from wearing inappropriate attire, which includes clothing with racial/religious/ethnic slurs that are likely to cause a disturbance.
Moreover, mall policy prohibits picketing, demonstrating, soliciting, protesting, and petitioning.
According to a report, the preaching man was asked to leave the mall on a different occasion. This time, however, he appears to have simply been walking around the mall. The man was reportedly able to continue shopping while wearing his shirt, as he was not required to leave the store.
Local reports show Pastor Chase Thompson criticized the mall’s response to the incident and urged the victim to pursue legal action saying he ought to sue them into extinction.
He believed this would not have occurred in the United States until very recently, and certainly not if he had been wearing a pride shirt and 50 people had complained.
He makes a good point. The ‘flavor of the week’ organizations seem to have extra special rights lately.
