39 Now Charged in St. Paul Church Protest Against ICE as Additional Arrests are Made
The number of people charged in connection with the protest against ICE at a St. Paul church has risen to 39, with 30 additional arrests made on Friday, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi. This brings the total to 39, in addition to the nine people previously charged.
The protest, which took place at Cities Church on January 18, was a high-profile event that led to the arrests of journalists Georgia Fort and Don Lemon, as well as attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong. Court documents obtained by KARE 11 reveal that the protest involved a group of individuals who entered the church to protest against Pastor David Easterwood, who also holds a leadership position with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The indictment alleges that the defendants entered the church with the intent to take over and engage in acts that furthered their conspiracy. They physically occupied the main aisle and rows of chairs near the front, engaging in menacing and threatening behavior towards the church's congregants and pastors. Several 'overt acts' were committed, including the distribution of flyers about the protest on personal Facebook accounts by specific individuals.
Following their arrests, at least five of the activists, including Lemon, Fort, and Armstrong, have pleaded not guilty to federal civil rights charges. Lemon, a journalist, emphasized the importance of the First Amendment in his work and expressed his determination to fight the charges, stating that he will not be intimidated or silenced.
The protest sparked criticism from those on the right, including Attorney General Bondi, who labeled it a 'coordinated attack' on a place of worship. She vowed to find, arrest, and prosecute those involved, emphasizing the Department of Justice's commitment to protecting Christians and all Americans of faith.
Doug Wardlow, the director of litigation for True North Legal and legal representative for Cities Church, agreed with Bondi, stating that the indictment sends a clear message that houses of worship are off-limits for those advancing a political agenda. He described the protest as a planned and coordinated effort to disrupt a worship service, causing fear among congregants, including children.
The arrests occurred during the federal government's 'Operation Metro Surge,' an initiative to deploy thousands of immigration enforcement agents to the Twin Cities. This operation was terminated following the shooting deaths of two Minnesotans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal agents in two separate incidents.
