Earlier this week, velociraptors advocates united as the dinosaurs entered the Mall of America’s Old Navy and started shopping. In the store, raptors started moving among the racks of clothes, trying to find the perfect outfit. It was a quiet but important victory in the battle for velociraptor rights groups, as mall security was instructed to stand down by store managers. Many employees were noticeably uncomfortable, and with some refusing to stay on the sales floor.

Witnesses saw many raptors immediately gravitate towards Hawaiian t-shirts and cargo shorts, bringing baskets of clothes to the dressing rooms. Ear piercing screams became normal quickly as raptors became excited about the new flannel sweater vests. Some tensions surfaced as managers asked raptors to pay for clothes as they became torn and shredded, but backed away as the raptors uniformly stopped making noise and stared at the mid-level employees. Cashiers quickly learned to not offer rewards cards, as raptors would unanimously steal the card and eat it, but before entering their information, voiding the sign up process.

Outside of the store, other mall shoppers were greeted with a new sign that read “RAPTOR FRIENDLY” over a silhouette of a velociraptor, similar to the designs found on rest rooms. The design has been in the news lately, appearing in various places that allow raptors. Notable sightings have been in front of TD Banks and Sonoco gas stations, however, raptors are still required to prepay for gas. Here, the sign sparked controversy as many customers refused to enter a store that could potentially contain raptors. One customer remarked “that’s goddamn crazy,” while another simply noted “I will never willingly go into a building with raptors.” Mild protests quickly formed outside, however, mall security quickly asked many people to leave the mall. Most did willingly, not wanting to provoke the raptors shopping inside.

The Velociraptor Awareness Association, or V.A.A, considered the day “a huge victory in raptor rights,” and applauded the store employees who granted the raptors entrance. The group noted that “being comfortable with [raptors] could take some time,” and said that feeling uneasy at first was normal, considering the large size of the dinosaur, but to disregard the rumors that the raptors would “strip a man’s flesh from his bones in thirty seconds.” The V.A.A claims that raptors are peaceful, and will only harm humans when provoked, but notes that “humans are the same way, without the claws.”

As Old Navy closed its doors at the end of the day, excited raptors left through the double doors of the store. While no raptors were available to comment, it was clear hundreds of dollars had been spent during the day, which unfortunately for Old Navy, was nowhere near the daily sales plan. Onlookers passed by, some afraid, others angry, but the crowd was silent as the dinosaurs left, eerily eying the herd of people, letting the raptor’s collective gaze speak for them. It was a silent, serene moment, and as the doors shut behind the dinosaurs, many people locked eyes, just for a moment, before letting themselves leave, knowing, for better or worse, the raptors were here, in the Mall of America, to stay.