Lawyer Common Pam Bondi and different prime administration officers stated that the Justice Division is investigating an obvious disruption that occurred at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday as a possible violation of the Freedom of Entry to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
Along with defending clinic entrances, the FACE Act additionally bars interfering with the train of non secular freedom at a spot of non secular worship.
A gaggle of protesters interrupt companies on the Cities Church in St. Paul by chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” Jan. 18, 2026.
Communicate Mpls by way of AP
The disruptive incident occurred on the Cities Church in St. Paul and was captured by former CNN anchor Don Lemon, who posted it to his YouTube web page.
“I simply spoke to the Pastor in Minnesota whose church was focused,” Bondi stated in a submit on social media. “Assaults towards legislation enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the total drive of federal legislation.”
Protesters accused one of many church’s pastors of main the ICE discipline workplace in St. Paul and spoke out towards ICE techniques throughout the protest.
St. Paul Police stated officers responded to Cities Church following studies of “roughly 30 to 40 protesters who interrupted church companies.” The protesters had moved outdoors the church by the point police arrived and officers “continued to watch the protest,” the division stated.
A gaggle of protesters interrupt companies on the Cities Church in St. Paul by chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” Jan. 18, 2026.
Communicate Mpls by way of AP
Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division, stated in an earlier submit, “The @CivilRights is investigating the potential violations of the federal FACE Act by these folks desecrating a home of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers.”
“A home of worship just isn’t a public discussion board to your protest! It’s a area protected against precisely such acts by federal legal and civil legal guidelines! Nor does the First Modification shield your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service. You might be on discover!” Dhillon stated in one other social media submit in an obvious reference to Lemon.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted as nicely, stating, “President Trump is not going to tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians of their sacred locations of worship. The Division of Justice has launched a full investigation into the despicable incident that passed off earlier at present at a church in Minnesota.”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement put the blame on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, saying on social media that they “are liable for whipping these mobs right into a frenzy after which permitting them to run rampant.”
On Monday, a spokesperson for Walz stated in a press release that the governor “has repeatedly and unequivocally urged protesters to take action peacefully. Whereas folks have a proper to talk out, he under no circumstances helps interrupting a spot of worship.”
Walz stated in an handle final week, “We are able to, we should, protest loudly, forcefully, but in addition peacefully.” Frey, final week, additionally inspired protesters to stay peaceable, stating, “We can’t counter Donald Trump’s chaos with our personal model of chaos.”
-ABC Information’ Jack Date
