82-year-old Al Harrison says he was fired from Bonita Lakes Mall about two weeks ago. For the last five years, he had portrayed Santa at the mall.
That all came to an end after he says he was let go for sharing his religion with patrons.
According to Harrison, over the years after a child had taken the picture, and left his seat to look at nearby things, he would ask the parent if he or she knew what the candy cane that he gave their child meant. He told them it symbolized the crucifixion. Then he says he would ask the parent if he or she knew his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Up until this year he says he had not had any problems.
"I was telling this to a young lady and whenever I asked her, 'Do you have him?' She told me, 'I didn't come for nothing but a picture,' and she walked out. And I feel that that is the one that caused me to get fired," said Harrison....