The Justice Department launched a civil rights probe after a disturbance at a Sunday service at the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, following allegations of a potential Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act violation.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said her office is looking into the case under the FACE Act.
According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, she spoke directly to the pastor, stating that intimidation at a place of worship and attacking law enforcement would be prosecuted by the federal government. The department will remain “mobilized” if state leadership does not take steps to prevent “lawlessness,” according to Bondi.
According to the St. Paul police department, officers were called to the church at approximately 10:40 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, in response to several calls regarding approximately 30 to 40 individuals protesting and causing a disturbance in the area, which is located in the 1500 block of Summit Avenue. By the time officers arrived, the group was outside, and this is an ongoing investigation for disorderly conduct.
Black Lives Matter Minnesota video captures the group entering the sanctuary and claiming that one of the leaders of the church is actually the acting field director of ICE in St. Paul. The group stated Easterwood was not present in the church. The video captures the group speaking to the church’s lead pastor Jonathan Parnell. A protester is heard reminding the congregation that “someone teaching people in this church about God is overseeing ICE agents.”
ICE criticized the disruption, blaming Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for letting “protests run rampant.”
The office of Governor Walz stated that while Governor Walz believes in peaceful protests, he doesn’t believe that worship should be interrupted.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has posted a message for MLK Day on X, but not yet commented on the church disruption as of early Monday afternoon.
The case comes as tensions are rising over the enforcement of immigration laws in Minnesota, which now finds itself the subject of a new class-action lawsuit over the issue.
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