Ice: ‘You may’t assault a home of worship’: DOJ indicts 30 extra folks over Minnesota anti-ICE church protest
The Trump administration on Friday introduced contemporary federal costs in opposition to 30 further folks alleged to have taken half in storming Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, throughout an anti‑ICE protest on January 18. Of these charged, 25 have already been arrested, Lawyer Common Pam Bondi mentioned, with extra anticipated to be taken into custody.Bondi, in a social media put up, known as the disruption of a worship service an “assault on a home of worship,” warning that “we’ll discover you, arrest you, and prosecute you.” She added that the Justice Division “STANDS for Christians and all Individuals of religion.”The expanded indictment brings the entire quantity charged within the case to 39 people, all accused of conspiracy in opposition to spiritual freedom and interfering with the correct to non secular worship underneath federal regulation.A number of excessive‑profile figures are amongst these charged, together with unbiased journalists and activists reminiscent of Don Lemon, Georgia Fort and Nekima Levy Armstrong. All have pleaded not responsible to the civil‑rights associated costs.
What occurred at Cities Church
Protesters entered the Cities Church throughout a Sunday service, chanting in opposition to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and demanding accountability following federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota. The demonstration was reportedly triggered after activists discovered that one of many church’s pastors additionally serves as a neighborhood ICE official.In keeping with the indictment, the group carried out a “coordinated takeover‑model assault,” obstructing worshippers and scary congregants, together with youngsters.The case has drawn widespread political consideration, with conservative leaders and DOJ officers condemning the protest, whereas supporters of the demonstrators have raised questions on free speech and press freedoms.This growth comes amid broader tensions in Minnesota over federal immigration enforcement operations and protests sparked by the deaths of civilians throughout ICE actions earlier this yr.