In a surprising turn of events, the group of anti-ICE activists, who disrupted a church service on a Sunday alongside former CNN reporter Don Lemon, will not be facing charges under Minnesota state law. This decision has sparked criticism from the church’s head pastor.
St. Paul City Attorney Irene Kao announced on Wednesday that the evidence presented was not sufficient to warrant criminal charges according to Minnesota statutes concerning the January 18 incident. “Our decision should not be seen as condoning unlawful actions or public disorder,” Kao clarified. “We must respect and balance the right to peaceful protest with the right to practice one’s faith. This balance is central to our conclusion today.”
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has taken a firmer stance, charging 39 individuals, including Don Lemon, who claimed he was working as an independent journalist at the time. The charges relate to federal civil rights violations after the group stormed into the church to protest state-wide immigration enforcement operations.
Jonathan Parnell, the lead pastor at Cities Church, expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision not to pursue state charges. He described the event as an “invasion” of their church and a disruption of their worship, which he shared in a video message on X. “The city of Saint Paul has officially deemed the January 18 incident at our church a ‘peaceful protest,'” Parnell noted, clearly disagreeing with the characterization.
The decision not to also bring state charges was condemned by Cities Church lead pastor Jonathan Parnell, the church’s lead pastor who was cornered by Lemon during the takeover.
“The city of Saint Paul has officially determined the January 18 invasion of our church and the desecration of our worship to be a ‘peaceful protest,” he said in a video posted on X.
“According to the St. Paul City Attorney’s logic, it is perfectly fine for agitators to invade a mosque, a cathedral, or a temple, intimidate the families and children inside, and shut down their religious gathering. Just call it a ‘protest,’” he added in a statement.
Lemon livestreamed the entire demonstration, including the lead-up in which he was conducting “reconnaissance” with the group about their plans in a parking lot near the church while taking precautions that the details of their plan were not broadcast.
“They’re planning an operation we’re going to follow them on. I can’t tell you exactly what they’re doing, but it’s called Operation Pull-Up,” he said in the stream.
“So that’s what we’re doing here, and after we do this operation, you’ll see it live, these operations are surprise operations. Again, I can’t tell you where they’re going,” he said, indicating he was very much a part of the demonstration despite his protestations he was only covering it as a reporter.
The frequently fired ex-CNN anchor was arrested by FBI agents at a hotel in Los Angeles days later.
The 39 who were federally indicted — including Lemon, journalist Georgia Fort and Black Lives Matter activist Nekima Levy Armstrong — were hit with charges including conspiracy against religious freedom and interfering with the exercise of religious freedom at a place of worship, according to the Justice Department.
