MINNEAPOLIS — The ongoing debate over immigration enforcement has intensified in Minnesota following a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul that led to the arrests of nine individuals, including journalists and local activists.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed on Monday that two new arrests were made, bringing the total to nine following a grand jury indictment. The individuals were charged with federal civil rights offenses for their roles in disrupting worship services on January 18.
Among those arrested were independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, as well as well-known activist Nekima Levy Armstrong. The protest, aimed at challenging the church's links to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), included chanting demands for the removal of ICE from immigrant communities.
In a statement posted to social media, Bondi identified the two latest arrests as Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson but did not provide further details surrounding their detentions.
Lemon, recently fired from CNN, distanced himself from the protestors, stating he was merely covering the event as an independent journalist. However, allegations suggest Richardson was with Lemon while streaming live during the protest.
The Justice Department’s investigation into the protest erupted after demonstrators interrupted services with slogans calling for justice associated with a recent shooting spree involving an ICE officer in Minneapolis that claimed the life of a mother of three.
The Cities Church, affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, has stirred controversy due to its leadership ties with federal law enforcement, heightening tensions on the matter of immigration policy enforcement within faith communities.
As the media closely follows this ongoing case, many are left pondering the implications of using places of worship for political demonstrations and the broader implications for civil rights amidst stringent immigration laws.
