Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Friday that federal prosecutors have indicted 30 additional people in connection with a January protest inside Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. The charges allege civil rights violations tied to a Jan. 18 disruption at a service; Bondi said 25 of the newly charged were in custody and further arrests were expected. The expanded indictment follows earlier charges this month against journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong. With the new filings, 39 people now face federal counts of conspiracy against religious freedom and interfering with the free exercise of religion.
Key takeaways
- Federal indictment adds 30 defendants to a case over a Jan. 18 protest inside Cities Church in St. Paul; 25 of the new defendants were reported in custody on announcement day.
- Including earlier filings, 39 people now face charges of conspiracy against religious freedom and interference with religious exercise.
- Initial high-profile defendants charged in January include Don Lemon, Georgia Fort and Nekima Levy Armstrong; all have pleaded not guilty.
- The indictment describes the protest as a “coordinated takeover-style attack” and quotes children expressing fear during the disruption.
- Protesters said they targeted the church because one of its pastors worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement; chants during the event included “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good.”
- The filing adds details about alleged reconnaissance and planning the day before the protest, including recorded visits to the church grounds.
- Officials and the church’s lawyer framed the action as an attack on a house of worship; some organizers and participants dispute that characterization and say they acted to protest ICE actions.
Background
The protest occurred on Jan. 18 at Cities Church in St. Paul after word spread that a pastor there also served with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The demonstration followed national outrage over the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good, who was killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis, and other deadly encounters involving federal officers in the region.
Federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota has been elevated in recent months under Operation Metro Surge, a deployment that at its peak involved roughly 3,000 officers. Court filings and public statements indicate the force was later scaled back; about 400 ICE and Homeland Security agents were expected to remain in Minneapolis by early March, according to one court filing.
The church disturbance drew rapid condemnation from federal officials and conservative leaders who described the interruption of a Sunday service as unlawful. At the same time, local activists and some community members framed the action as a protest against ICE practices and the killings of community members.
Main event
According to the indictment quoted by prosecutors, a group entered Cities Church and disrupted services on Jan. 18, chanting slogans and confronting worshippers. A livestreamed video posted to Facebook captured people chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good” while interrupting the service, according to reporting on the case.
Prosecutors assert the protesters engaged in coordinated actions that intimidated families and children attending the service. The charging document quotes a child saying parents might be killed, a passage prosecutors cited to underscore the seriousness of the alleged conduct.
The revised indictment adds allegations that two individuals conducted surveillance outside the church a day earlier, recording their observations and discussing plans to obstruct an alleyway. Prosecutors describe the overall effort as a planned, takeover-style intrusion rather than a spontaneous demonstration.
Those charged in the new indictment made initial court appearances and were released pending further proceedings, the attorney general’s office said. Bondi warned on social media that those involved in targeting a house of worship would be identified and prosecuted.
Analysis & implications
The expanded indictment raises legal and political questions about the boundary between protected protest and criminal interference with religious exercise. Under federal law, conspiracy charges tied to religious freedom can carry significant penalties if prosecutors prove coordinated efforts to obstruct worship. The government will need to show planning, intent and specific actions that deprived worshippers of their right to practice religion.
Politically, the case lands amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities and nationally. The presence of ICE personnel in Minneapolis after high-profile operations and shootings has prompted sustained protests; charging additional defendants could deepen local polarization and influence public debates about federal enforcement tactics.
For the defendants who are journalists or well-known activists, the prosecutions raise free-press and civil liberties questions. Don Lemon and Georgia Fort say they were present in a journalistic capacity; Nekima Levy Armstrong has defended the protest as a moral response to community deaths attributed to federal officers. Courts will need to weigh those claims against the indictment’s factual assertions about coordination and intimidation.
Comparison & data
| Event | Date | People charged/arrested | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Church protest (Cities Church) | Jan. 18 | 30 newly indicted; 25 in custody at announcement | Charged with conspiracy against religious freedom and interference |
| Earlier indictments (high-profile) | January (earlier filing) | 3 charged publicly (Lemon, Fort, Levy Armstrong) | Pleaded not guilty; claimed journalistic/activist roles |
| Operation Metro Surge peak vs. later | Winter months | ~3,000 peak → ~400 expected by early March | Federal immigration enforcement scaled down after protests |
| Economic impact (Minneapolis) | Post-operation estimates | $203 million | City estimate of local economic effects attributed to enforcement activity |
These figures show how a localized incident intersects with broader enforcement operations and community impact. The jump from earlier individual charges to a larger group indictment signals prosecutors’ intent to treat the disruption as an organized offense rather than isolated acts.
Reactions & quotes
Officials with the Justice Department and the state framed the new filings as necessary to protect houses of worship and public order. Bondi used strong language on social media to signal enforcement priorities and deter similar actions.
If you do so, you cannot hide from us — we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you.
Attorney General Pam Bondi (social media)
The church’s legal representative praised the charges as a defense of religious liberty and public safety, arguing the First Amendment does not permit storming a sanctuary.
The First Amendment does not give anyone license to storm a church and intimidate, threaten, and terrorize families and children worshipping inside.
Doug Wardlow (church lawyer)
Organizers and community activists pushed back, saying law enforcement priorities are misaligned and pointing to unresolved killings of community members by federal officers.
It’s a shame that people who killed Alex Pretti and Renee Good have not been arrested but peaceful protesters have.
Trahern Crews (BLM Minnesota organizer)
Unconfirmed
- Whether all named journalists and activists intended to participate as demonstrators rather than as reporters remains contested and will be evaluated in court.
- Claims about the extent of prior coordination beyond what is described in the indictment have not been independently verified by prosecutors or third-party evidence presented publicly.
Bottom line
The expanded federal indictment marks a significant escalation in the legal response to the Jan. 18 disturbance at Cities Church and frames the event as coordinated interference with religious worship. Prosecutors will rely on the indictment’s detailed allegations to make their case; defendants who maintain journalistic or protest motives will press First Amendment and factual defenses in court.
Beyond the courtroom, the case underscores broader tensions in the Twin Cities over immigration enforcement, community trust, and use of federal force. How judges and juries resolve questions of intent and coordination will shape both the legal landscape for protest and local politics as Minnesota continues to contend with the fallout from Operation Metro Surge.
Sources
- Associated Press (news report)