In brief
The number of arrests following a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, has risen to nine, with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi revealing two additional arrests on Monday. The indicted individuals, including journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, face federal civil rights charges related to a protest against immigration enforcement that disrupted church services. The protest's connection to the Trump administration's strict immigration policies has sparked significant controversy and backlash.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday announced two more arrests following a protest at a Minnesota church against the immigration crackdown, bringing the number of people arrested to nine. The nine were named in a grand jury indictment unsealed Friday. Independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort were among four people arrested Friday. Three others were arrested earlier in the week, including prominent local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong.A grand jury in Minnesota indicted all nine on federal civil rights charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers during the January 18 protest at the Cities Church in St. Paul. A pastor at this church is also a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official, which intensified the protest actions and reactions, generating strong objections from the Trump administration.In a social media post, Bondi confirmed the latest two arrestees as Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson without providing further details. Lemon, a former CNN host, who describes himself as an independent journalist covering the protest scene, clarified that he was not part of a group that disrupted the church service. The indictment specifies that Richardson was captured on video traveling to the protest with Lemon as he livestreamed the event, while Austin was noted for confronting a church leader on Christian nationalism during the unrest.These protests erupted focusing on ICE’s actions, especially the tragic case of Renee Good, a mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE officer. The Cities Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and has garnered attention for its association with federal immigration enforcement policies.
