DOJ Arrests 25 in Minnesota Church Disruption, Vows Zero Tolerance for Attacks on Worship

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – Federal authorities have arrested 25 individuals in connection with a January 18 anti-ICE protest that disrupted services at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday.

Bondi said the Justice Department unsealed a new indictment charging 30 additional people over what prosecutors described as a coordinated “takeover-style attack” on the church. She emphasized that more arrests are expected.

“You cannot attack a house of worship,” Bondi wrote, pledging that those responsible would be found and prosecuted. She added that the Department of Justice “stands for Christians and all Americans of faith.”

According to the indictment, 39 individuals have now been charged in total under the federal FACE Act — the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act — which also protects houses of worship from force, threats, and obstruction. Federal charges include conspiracy to deprive rights and interference with religious freedom.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrests demonstrate that federal authorities will not tolerate intimidation of Americans exercising their right to worship.

“Today’s FACE Act arrests with our federal partners show this FBI will never tolerate those who target, attack, or intimidate Americans peacefully exercising their right to worship freely,” Patel said.

Prosecutors allege that protest organizers promoted the action online under the name “Operation Pullup” and coordinated beforehand at a nearby shopping center. Once inside the church, defendants allegedly engaged in acts of intimidation, threats, and physical obstruction that forced the congregation to terminate the worship service.

The indictment states that congregants fled the building out of fear, emergency protocols were initiated, and children were left distressed amid the chaos.

The protest targeted a church pastor who also serves as acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Minneapolis. Demonstrators had demanded his resignation.

Among those charged is former CNN anchor Don Lemon, who allegedly entered the church during the disruption and spoke with lead pastor Jonathan Parnell. Lemon has pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to deprive religious freedom rights and violating the FACE Act.

“This is unacceptable,” Pastor Parnell said at the time. “It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship. I have to take care of my flock.”

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