In brief
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest of two more individuals, Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson, at a Minnesota church, resulting in a total of nine arrests related to a January protest against immigration policies. The protest led to federal civil rights charges against the arrestees for disrupting church services, with prominent figures including independent journalist Don Lemon among those facing charges. The incident sparked significant controversy and federal investigation due to its ties to an ICE official at the church.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — On Monday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced two more arrests following a protest against immigration enforcement at Cities Church in Minnesota, increasing the total to nine. This announcement comes in the wake of a grand jury indictment that was unsealed last Friday.
Among the nine individuals arrested are journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, along with noteworthy activist Nekima Levy Armstrong. These individuals face federal civil rights charges for allegedly interfering with worshippers' rights during the protest held on January 18. The protest drew notable criticism from the Trump administration due to the church's connection to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official who serves as its pastor.
In a recent social media update, Bondi identified the newest arrestees as Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson but did not disclose further details regarding their arrests.
During the protest, it is alleged that Richardson accompanied Lemon while he was live-streaming, with the intent to catch up with other protesters. Austin has been reported to have openly confronted a pastor during services, demanding answers about Christian nationalism.
Online records indicate Austin’s arrest occurred on Friday, but it remains unclear when Richardson was detained. The Justice Department’s inquiry was initiated after protesters disrupted the church service by chanting demands related to immigration justice, specifically referencing the case of Renee Good, a mother who was fatally shot by an ICE officer.
The church, affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, is led by David Easterwood, who is linked to ICE's St. Paul field office, further complicating the situation and escalating tensions surrounding the protest.
