(The Epoch Times)—The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) is looking into possible violations stemming from a protest by anti-ICE demonstrators at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Jan. 18, according to officials.
Footage circulating on social media shows protesters gathering inside Cities Church in St. Paul during a Sunday service, while chanting phrases like “Justice for Renee Good” and “Who needs justice, we need justice.”
Protests against ICE in Minnesota have escalated after a federal agent in Minneapolis fatally shot protester Renee Good, who allegedly drove her SUV toward the officer after being ordered to exit her vehicle during an ICE operation. Federal officials have said the officer opened fire in self-defense.
Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, said on X that federal officials are investigating protesters for potential violations for allegedly “desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers” during a service at Cities Church.
“Considering and investigating other related crimes as well. @FBI activated too,” Dhillon said in a subsequent post, suggesting the FBI will also be involved in the investigation.
Attorney General Pam Bondi later said on X that she has been in communication with Dhillon regarding the protests at Cities Church and has ordered the DOJ to investigate.
Bondi also warned that anyone found in violation of federal law will face prosecution.
YouTuber Don Lemon, who livestreamed the protest, said that anti-ICE protesters disrupted a church service at Cities Church following claims that one of the church pastors is serving as acting field office director for ICE in Minnesota.
In his video, Lemon spoke to the church’s lead pastor, Jonathan Parnell, as protesters gathered inside the church. Parnell said that he had requested the protesters to leave but they refused.
“I mean this is unacceptable. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship,” Parnell told Lemon.
Lemon pointed to the First Amendment, highlighting the rights “to freedom of speech and freedom to assemble and protest,” and Parnell replied that the congregation had come “here to worship Jesus.”
When asked whether he had tried to talk to the protesters, Parnell said: “No one is willing to talk. I have to take care of my church and my family, so I ask that you actually would also leave this building.”
Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, said that his organization will step in and provide security for the church if local officials fail to take action.
“For protestors to disrupt a Sunday morning worship service this way is absurd. If elected officials won’t contain lawlessness @NAMB_SBC will provide security,” Ezell said on X.
The Epoch Times reached out to the Cities Church for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz mobilized his state’s National Guard on Jan. 17 to support public safety amid ongoing protests across multiple cities in the state. The Minnesota National Guard said the soldiers will wear bright yellow reflective vests over their uniforms so protesters can “distinguish them from other agencies” such as ICE.
“These Soldiers are staged, and vehicles and personnel are ready to respond at locations across the metro,” Army Maj. Andrea Tsuchiya, state public affairs officer for the Minnesota National Guard, told The Epoch Times on Jan. 18.
Jacki Thrapp contributed to this report.
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