ST. PAUL, Minnesota — The U.S. Justice Department has arrested three activists on federal charges after a protest disrupted a church service in Minnesota, while confirming that journalist Don Lemon will not face criminal charges in connection with the incident, officials said on Wednesday.
The protest took place during a Sunday worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, where demonstrators entered the sanctuary, chanted slogans, and interrupted religious proceedings. Authorities said the action crossed the line from protected protest into criminal disruption of a place of worship.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the arrests were made under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act), a 1994 federal law that also protects religious institutions from obstruction, threats, or interference. The suspects are accused of intentionally disrupting a religious service and preventing congregants from freely exercising their faith.
According to the Justice Department, the protest targeted the church’s pastor, who also holds a leadership role connected to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The demonstrators were protesting federal immigration enforcement policies and ICE operations in Minnesota, which have intensified in recent months.
Bondi said the arrests reflect the administration’s position that places of worship are protected spaces, regardless of political disagreements. “The right to protest does not include the right to invade churches, disrupt services, or intimidate worshippers,” she said in a statement.
The Justice Department also addressed the role of Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor, who was present at the church and livestreamed portions of the protest. Federal prosecutors sought approval to charge Lemon for his involvement, but a federal magistrate judge rejected the request, determining that Lemon’s actions were consistent with newsgathering and protected under the First Amendment.
Justice Department officials confirmed that no further action will be taken against Lemon, emphasizing that journalists covering protests are not criminally liable unless they actively participate in unlawful conduct.
The case has drawn national attention amid broader debates over immigration enforcement, protest rights, and the limits of civil disobedience. Civil liberties groups have criticized the arrests as excessive, while federal officials argue the enforcement was necessary to uphold the law and protect religious freedom.
The three defendants are expected to appear in federal court in the coming days. If convicted, they could face fines and potential prison sentences under federal law.
The Justice Department said the investigation remains ongoing but stressed that the case is focused solely on the church disruption, not on peaceful protest activity elsewhere.
Originally published by: Associated Press (AP News)
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