MN - Journalist Don Lemon arrested for church protest, Minneapolis, 18 Jan 2026

[Betty P]

The statute does provide for it, so it could go very well.

The Attorney General can even initiate it: 18 U.S. Code § 248 - Freedom of access to clinic entrances

"(2) Action by attorney general of the united states.—
(A) In general.—
If the Attorney General of the United States has reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons is being, has been, or may be injured by conduct constituting a violation of this section, the Attorney General may commence a civil action in any appropriate United States District Court.

(B) Relief.—In any action under subparagraph (A), the court may award appropriate relief, including temporary, preliminary or permanent injunctive relief, and compensatory damages to persons aggrieved as described in paragraph (1)(B). The court, to vindicate the public interest, may also assess a civil penalty against each respondent—
(i)
in an amount not exceeding $10,000 for a nonviolent physical obstruction and $15,000 for other first violations; and
(ii)
in an amount not exceeding $15,000 for a nonviolent physical obstruction and $25,000 for any other subsequent violation."

The "civil penalty" is in addition to damages.

Plaintiffs in the church congregation don’t need to have the federal government file a civil suit on their behalf. They can do it through the local courts. Good luck, it might take a while, but no one is stopping them.

OTOH, the U.S. Atty General’s office has a lot of irons in the fire these days.

 

[Sillybilly]

ADMIN NOTE:

Could someone please find a link to an approved source regarding children fearing shooting.

Thank you.

 

[Sundog]

ADMIN NOTE:

Could someone please find a link to an approved source regarding children fearing shooting.

Thank you.

It's in the affadavit. Paragraph 48 where witnesses note that one child told his father that he thought he was going to die and other witnesses describe traumatized children and other congregants as a result of the chants by protesters. Protesters screaming in children's faces telling them their parents were nazi's and they were going to burn in hell, etc., etc.

Affidavit for Criminal Complaint Against Protestors | PDF | U.S. Immigration And Customs Enforcement | American Government

This affidavit, submitted by Special Agent Timothy Gerber, outlines the investigation into a group of agitators who disrupted a religious service at Cities Church in St. Paul, MN on January 18, 2026. The group, led by Nekima Valdez Levy-Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, coordinated their...

www.scribd.com

 

[Ontario Mom]

It's in the affadavit. Paragraph 48 where witnesses note that one child told his father that he thought he was going to die and other witnesses describe traumatized children and other congregants as a result of the chants by protesters. Protesters screaming in children's faces telling them their parents were nazi's and they were going to burn in hell, etc., etc.

Affidavit for Criminal Complaint Against Protestors | PDF | U.S. Immigration And Customs Enforcement | American Government

This affidavit, submitted by Special Agent Timothy Gerber, outlines the investigation into a group of agitators who disrupted a religious service at Cities Church in St. Paul, MN on January 18, 2026. The group, led by Nekima Valdez Levy-Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, coordinated their...

www.scribd.com

Thank you. This information has been posted many times.

For parents and grandparents in the church that day this was a most horrific disruption for sure.

jmo

 

[PrairieWind]

If the church and it's members are that sensitive to non member humans peacefully (imo) entering their service/church, that it inflicts servere emotional trauma, they perhaps need to set up a key card system and keep their doors locked to "outsiders".

Maybe many of the members are recovering trauma survivors and have a very low threshold for any type of out of structure event. I am sure that will enter into the womans lawsuit - does she come from a traumatized background and is therefore easily triggered, I dont know but the court will I assume.

Now contrast that wilth the trauma ICE has been inflicting on the communities the church serves. Guns tear gas pepper spray etc- actual physical violence and death -

JMO

JMO

"Peacefully" entering? They took over the service. Stopped the service.
Sadly, our local Catholic churches now do exactly as you suggest. When the mass begins, the doors are locked and ushers will only admit those they recognize. Sad, but necessary in this day I guess.

 

[PrairieWind]

Outside of DL, and anyone else claiming to be a journalist, do people agree that the other protester's charges are warranted for intentionally disturbing the church service?

 

[CrimeDawg123]

https://bsky.app/profile/joshgerstein.bsky.social%2Fpost%2F3mfu4cavycs2i

 

[witchway]

"Peacefully" entering? They took over the service. Stopped the service.
Sadly, our local Catholic churches now do exactly as you suggest. When the mass begins, the doors are locked and ushers will only admit those they recognize. Sad, but necessary in this day I guess.

If it’s true that catholic churches(or any church) lock the doors during mass(which I highly doubt) that would be a serious code violation. People need to have access at all times to outside by multiple exits, police and fire need access inside as well.

Did Don Lemon or Georgia Fort at any point protest? Stop the service? Multiple video feeds provided have answered that question in my opinion.

Please review the many videos provided of the protest and show me how the journalists did any of the accusations I read here. Thanks moo

 

[PrairieWind]

If it’s true that catholic churches(or any church) lock the doors during mass(which I highly doubt) that would be a serious code violation. People need to have access at all times to outside by multiple exits, police and fire need access inside as well.

Did Don Lemon or Georgia Fort at any point protest? Stop the service? Multiple video feeds provided have answered that question in my opinion.

Please review the many videos provided of the protest and show me how the journalists did any of the accusations I read here. Thanks moo

You doubt it? YOu can look. I see many RC parishes are now doing this. They are panic/crash bar doors. You can go out, but not get in.

 

[witchway]

You doubt it? YOu can look. I see many RC parishes are now doing this. They are panic/crash bar doors. You can go out, but not get in.

Crash bars maybe to exit. But I have seen many parents of little ones and the elderly have to leave to get some fresh air during mass. They have to access back in. And again, police and fire need immediate access to auditoriums at all times in an emergency. Can’t sit around waiting for someone to open the door.

In any case I don’t see any response to my second question.

Please review the many videos provided of the protest and show me how the journalists did any of things listed on this thread.
Thanks moo

 

[PrairieWind]

Crash bars maybe to exit. But I have seen many parents of little ones and the elderly have to leave to get some fresh air during mass. They have to access back in. And again, police and fire need immediate access to auditoriums at all times in an emergency. Can’t sit around waiting for someone to open the door.

In any case I don’t see any response to my second question.

Please review the many videos provided of the protest and show me how the journalists did any of things listed on this thread.
Thanks moo

There are ushers at the door to admit those that they know after mass begins. This is really no different than a theater.
There is no code violation. There is no "right" to enter a church.
As for you videos, if i get time I will look. The video i have seen shows DL interviewing the Pastor near the alter during what should be worship service time. THAT IS disrupting the service.

 

[witchway]

There are ushers at the door to admit those that they know after mass begins. This is really no different than a theater.
There is no code violation. There is no "right" to enter a church.
As for you videos, if i get time I will look. The video i have seen shows DL interviewing the Pastor near the alter during what should be worship service time. THAT IS disrupting the service.

So the videos that have been submitted on this thread, you are finally reviewing? Great and thanks. Let me know what you think.

Ushers have been beside doors since I was a wee one. They are there to guide and assist all. but I never encountered a locked door. It would be quite disconcerting to me if I did. IMO

Everyone is welcome to attend a house of worship. My friend told me yesterday she went to a mass, and she is not catholic.

 

[musicaljoke]

If it’s true that catholic churches(or any church) lock the doors during mass(which I highly doubt) that would be a serious code violation. People need to have access at all times to outside by multiple exits, police and fire need access inside as well.

Did Don Lemon or Georgia Fort at any point protest? Stop the service? Multiple video feeds provided have answered that question in my opinion.

Please review the many videos provided of the protest and show me how the journalists did any of the accusations I read here. Thanks moo

It's not a code violation because the exit doors in public spaces will open outward from the inside, even when locked.

 

[witchway]

It's not a code violation because the exit doors in public spaces will open outward from the inside, even when locked.

This is def going off topic, but no. People must have access both ways during church services or mass. IMO

 

[witchway]

dbm

 

[musicaljoke]

This is def going off topic, but no. People must have access both ways during church services or mass. IMO

Not according to the building code.

 

[GatorsNorth]

Nope, nope, and nope. I live across the street from a Catholic Church and I can attest that the main entrance doors are NEVER locked.
I was a Catholic until 1991, and not much has changed. Yes, you need a security code to enter the Chapel, and I have that. I take my elderly neighbor there every week for Adoration. Everyone knows me, including the priests, and they’re all okay with me having the code. MOO

 

[GatorsNorth]

Not according to the building code.

With all due respect, do you have a link for this?

 

[tlcya]

Outside of DL, and anyone else claiming to be a journalist, do people agree that the other protester's charges are warranted for intentionally disturbing the church service?

I do. My only issue is whether those claiming to be there for journalistic purposes are rightly charged.

 

[Ontario Mom]

The Trump administration has charged 30 more people for their alleged involvement in storming a Minnesota church during an anti-ICE demonstration last month, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Friday. “YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. If you do so, you cannot hide from us — we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you,” Bondi wrote in a post on X announcing the busts.

30 more people charged in Minnesota church storming, with 25 already arrested, AG Bondi says

“YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP,” Bondi said.

nypost.com