Protesters Facing Federal Charges Avoid State Charges in Minnesota Church Incident

In St. Paul, Minnesota, dozens of protesters who disrupted a church service in January, including former CNN journalist Don Lemon, will not face state charges. According to St. Paul City Attorney Irene Kao, the evidence does not meet the standard under Minnesota state statutes for criminal charges. The decision received criticism from the lead pastor at Cities Church, where the protest took place.

Kao emphasized, “This decision should not be interpreted as an endorsement of unlawful behavior or public disorder.” She highlighted the importance of balancing the right to peacefully protest with the right to exercise religious beliefs.

“The right to peacefully protest is protected, as is the right to exercise one’s religious beliefs. Balancing these equally important rights is paramount to our decision today.” – Irene Kao, St. Paul City Attorney

The protest led to federal civil rights charges for 39 individuals, including Lemon. The demonstration, recorded on a livestream, involved participants chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good.” Renee Good was a mother of three, fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis.

The protesters targeted the church because one of its pastors also served as an official for ICE, overseeing federal operations in Minnesota.

Jonathan Parnell, the lead pastor at Cities Church, criticized the city attorney’s decision. He stated, “According to the St. Paul City Attorney’s logic, it is perfectly fine for agitators to invade a mosque, a cathedral, or a temple, intimidate the families and children inside, and shut down their religious gathering. Just call it a ‘protest.’”

While no violence, property destruction, or public safety threats occurred during the protest, Kao reiterated their significance. Attorneys for the church argued that the absence of property damage does not imply that laws were not broken.

In response to similar incidents, at least four states—Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kansas—have enacted laws criminalizing disruptions of worship services.