(The Center Square) – Dozens have now been indicted on federal charges related to a protest that disrupted a Jan. 18 church service in St. Paul.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced another round of arrests following the release of an indictment charging 30 additional people.
“YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. If you do so, you cannot hide from us — we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you,” Bondi said in a statement on social media. “This Department of Justice STANDS for Christians and all Americans of faith.”
This comes following widespread calls for arrests in the wake of the protest, which quickly captured attention far beyond Minnesota. The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the protest, which was organized in part by members of Black Lives Matter Minnesota.
Video posted by the group shows protesters chanting “ICE out” and “justice for Renee Good” during the Sunday morning service at Cities Church. Another video circulating on social media shows Kelly calling congregants “pretend Christians” and “comfortable white people.”
Caleb Phillips, a congregant at the church, told The Center Square in an exclusive interview that the protestors were seated throughout the congregation before the service began.
“The entire congregation came alive. Individuals who are planted from front to back throughout the entire place stood up,” Phillips said. “It felt like we were surrounded, because they were all throughout the congregation.”
Reports allege the protesters discovered one of the church’s pastors works for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, calling the protest a “clandestine mission.”
The church protest came in the wake of the Jan. 7 killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good during an encounter with ICE officers conducting enhanced immigration enforcement.
Journalist Don Lemon, a former CNN anchor who was inside the church covering the protest, is one of the most high-profile arrests made in conjunction with the protest. At the time, he defended the protestors.
“I imagine it’s uncomfortable and traumatic for the people here,” Lemon said during a livestream of the protest at service. “But, that’s what protesting is about.”
Lemon joined others who were indicted by a federal grand jury in Minnesota in January on two counts:
• conspiracy against right of religious freedom at a place of worship
• and injure, intimidate, and interfere with exercise of the right of religious freedom at a place of worship
Those charges stem from the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act of 1994, which prohibits obstruction or threats at abortion clinics and places of worship.
When Bondi made the announcement on Friday, 25 of the 30 had already been arrested, while more were expected to come throughout the day. That brings the total to 39 people who have been arrested for their part in the protest.
True North Legal Director of Litigation Doug Wardlow, the firm representing Cities Church, released a statement applauding the arrests.
“The indictment . . . sends a clear message: houses of worship are off limits for those who would use chaos and intimidation to advance a political agenda,” Wardlow said. “Cities Church is grateful for the Department of Justice’s continued commitment to enforcing federal law to protect churches and other places of worship. The Department’s aggressive prosecution of this case affirms a foundational principle: in the United States, the sanctuary remains a sanctuary.”
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