On January 18, 2026, a group of approximately 30 anti-ICE protesters stormed into Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, interrupting the Sunday morning worship service. The demonstrators, affiliated with the Racial Justice Network and echoing calls from Black Lives Matter Minnesota, chanted slogans like “ICE out” and “Hands up, don’t shoot,” while blowing whistles and accusing church leaders of complicity with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Their primary target was Pastor David Easterwood, whom they claimed serves as the acting ICE field office director for the region, overseeing operations they described as involving “violent tactics and illegal arrests.” Protesters also demanded justice for Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis earlier that month.
The chaos unfolded as worshippers, including families with children, were engaged in singing and preaching. Reports described terrified congregants, with one child sobbing in a father’s arms amid the shouting. Lead Pastor Jonathan Parnell confronted the group, calling the interruption “shameful” and “unacceptable,” emphasizing that the church was there “to worship Jesus.” He urged the protesters to leave, stating, “No one is willing to talk. I have to take care of my church and my family.”
Arrest every moron involved with storming the church service. pic.twitter.com/AHjRJKylhY
— Anthony Brian Logan (ABL)
(@ANTHONYBLOGAN) January 19, 2026
Of course this Washington DC based operative William Kelly who angrily invaded the church in St Paul, Minnesota loves the Somali mosque pic.twitter.com/S5jbsOV0Lf
— Anthony Brian Logan (ABL)
Freedom of Speech does not give you the right to disrupt a church service. pic.twitter.com/bXx91FF14m
— Anthony Brian Logan (ABL)
I never thought Don Lemon could stoop this low but I was mistaken.
This is not journalism. It is harassment. And illegal. pic.twitter.com/cn9QPn6WuT
— Anthony Brian Logan (ABL)
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon, now an independent journalist and YouTuber, played a prominent role in documenting the event. Lemon livestreamed the protest on social media, following the group inside the church and interviewing activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, who declared, “This cannot be a house of God while harboring someone directing ICE agents to wreak havoc on our community.” Lemon also engaged with Pastor Parnell afterward, where the pastor reiterated his condemnation. At one point, Lemon suggested the protesters had First Amendment rights to demonstrate inside the church, a remark that fueled further controversy. His involvement drew sharp criticism from conservative figures, who accused him of participating in the disruption rather than merely reporting it.
The incident quickly escalated into calls for legal action under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a federal law that prohibits obstruction, threats, or force intended to interfere with religious worship or reproductive health services. MAGA supporters and right-wing commentators, including Benny Johnson, Matt Walsh, and the MAGA Voice account, demanded Lemon’s arrest, labeling the protest a potential “hate crime” and a clear FACE Act violation. Baptist minister Paul Chappell echoed these sentiments, urging Christians to demand DOJ intervention.
Don Lemon is retarded. Just because you’re a journalist doesn’t mean you can interview and admonish the victims of a crime as the crime is happening because you think the crime is newsworthy. pic.twitter.com/1oYZrAzdAR
— Anthony Brian Logan (ABL)
In response, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, announced an investigation into possible FACE Act breaches and other related crimes. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed she had spoken with church leaders, describing the actions as “un-American and outrageous.” The FBI has also been activated to assist. As of January 19, no charges have been filed, but the probe underscores ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement and religious freedoms in Minnesota.
This event highlights the intersection of activism, journalism, and law enforcement in a politically charged climate, with implications for how protests in sacred spaces are handled under federal statutes.
SOURCES:
Department of Justice investigating anti-ICE protest at St. Paul church | FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
Activists disrupt Cities Church service to protest pastor’s job in ICE
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