‘Unacceptable’: Anti-ICE agitators storm Christian worship service, Don Lemon claims they have First Amendment right
A Christian church service was invaded by anti-ICE protesters in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday with former CNN anchor Don Lemon apparently leading the disturbance.
Lemon livestreamed the intrusion of Cities Church, a Southern Baptist congregation, as shouts of “ICE out!,” “Hands up, don’t shoot” and “Justice for Renee Good!” echoed through the building. Good was the anti-ICE activist fatally shot by a federal agent this month when she allegedly tried to run over an officer with her vehicle.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was not amused, as it shared a clip of the video and stated: “Agitators aren’t just targeting our officers. Now they’re targeting churches, too.
“They’re going from hotel to hotel, church to church, hunting for federal law enforcement who are risking their lives to protect Americans.
“Tim Walz and Jacob Frey are responsible for whipping these mobs into a frenzy and then allowing them to run rampant. We won’t be deterred. ICE isn’t going anywhere.”
Agitators aren’t just targeting our officers. Now they’re targeting churches, too.
They’re going from hotel to hotel, church to church, hunting for federal law enforcement who are risking their lives to protect Americans.
Tim Walz and Jacob Frey are responsible for whipping… https://t.co/O3WQ6Iftfe
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) January 18, 2026
“This is what the First Amendment is about, the freedom to protest,” Lemon said. “I’m sure people here don’t like it, but protests are not comfortable.”
DON LEMON & Protesters stormed a Minneapolis church chanting anti-ICE slogans, wrongly believing the pastor was ICE-affiliated.
Church is no longer safe for peaceful worship. Disgraced ex-CNN host Don Lemon harassed pastors & parishioners on live, refused to leave when asked… https://t.co/eoVo00CfZZ pic.twitter.com/wX0OKDgnwR
— Culture War Report (@CultureWar2020) January 18, 2026
The agitators were protesting that one of the church’s pastors is the acting director of the St. Paul ICE field office, having appeared in October on C-SPAN with that title.
Sunday’s lead pastor Jonathan Parnell shouted at a protester, “Shame on you! Shame on you! This is a house of God!”
When Lemon asked the Parnell what he thought of the event, the pastor asked Lemon to leave and said: “This is unacceptable. It’s shameful. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship. I have to take care of my flock.”
Saint Paul, MN
One of the pastors at Cities Church in Saint Paul gives Don Lemon the perfect answer :
Then asks him to leave so he can take care of his flock. pic.twitter.com/rPjRzlUqq6
— Erik Bryant (@Trumpwon) January 18, 2026
Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said the DOJ is investigating the church disturbance.
“The Civil Rights division is investigating the potential violations of the federal FACE Act by these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers,” Dhillon said.
“I’m in touch with Attorney General Pam Bondi and the FBI. We are all over it. We are investigating potential criminal violations of federal law,” she added.
“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!” she exclaimed.
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Not kidding: Watch Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey claim violent clashes against ICE are showing ‘LOVE’