The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has placed former CNN anchor Don Lemon “on notice” and launched a civil rights investigation into a disruptive anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, after Lemon livestreamed himself joining a group of activists who stormed a Sunday worship service there Jan. 18.
The ICE protesters entered the church chanting and halting prayer over accusations that one of the pastors held ties to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to a report from FOX News, protesters shouted slogans such as “ICE out!” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referring to the woman fatally shot by an ICE agent earlier this month. The protesters accused David Easterwood, one of the church’s pastors, of also working as the local ICE field office director, according to multiple reports.
Church attendees, including children present at the service, were reportedly terrified by the incident, according to Baptist Press. Word&Way, a Christian outlet, reported that the service ended early, with some congregants silently walking out as the protesters continued chanting.
Lemon, an independent journalist since his departure from CNN, was present. He livestreamed the event and interviewed participants. According to a report from FOX News, he also entered the church alongside the protesters and began filming, telling viewers that “the freedom to protest” is what the First Amendment is all about.
Footage also shows him approaching lead Pastor Jonathan Parnell. The pastor condemned the interruption as “unacceptable,” saying it was “shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship.”
Lemon later told a reporter that he believed the congregation had a sense of entitlement that stems from white supremacy.
“People who are in religious groups like that, that’s not the type of Christianity I practice, but I think that they’re entitled,” he said. “And that entitlement comes from a supremacy, a white supremacy.”
The DOJ quickly launched a civil rights investigation into Lemon’s potential violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which prohibits obstruction or interference at both clinics and places of worship.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon directly addressed Lemon on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service. You are on notice!”
Dhillon emphasized in a media appearance that journalism does not serve as a “shield” for potential involvement in criminal disruption, and suggested charges could include conspiracy under statutes like the Klan Act if coordination is found.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed she spoke with the pastor and vowed that “attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law,” adding that prosecutors had been dispatched to Minnesota.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also weighed in on X, writing, “President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship. The Department of Justice has launched a full investigation into the despicable incident that took place earlier today at a church in Minnesota.”
Lemon defended his actions in a video posted on his Instagram, stating he had “no affiliation” with the protesters, had only followed them as part of chronicling events, and was practicing journalism when he did so.
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