US Attorney General Pam Bondi has confirmed two further arrests in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church that opposed the ongoing immigration enforcement crackdown. The announcement brings the total number of individuals detained to nine, following a series of arrests that began earlier in the week.
Grand Jury Indictment Details Federal Charges
A grand jury in Minnesota has indicted all nine individuals on federal civil rights charges, including conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers. The charges stem from the protest that took place on January 18 at the Cities Church in St. Paul, which generated significant objections from the Trump administration.
Latest Arrests and Key Figures Involved
In a social media post on Monday, Bondi identified the two latest arrestees as Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson. However, she provided no specific details regarding the circumstances of their arrests. The indictment alleges that Richardson traveled to the church with former CNN host Don Lemon, who was streaming the event, and that Richardson instructed Lemon to catch up with other protesters. It further claims that Austin stood in the church aisles and loudly questioned a pastor about Christian nationalism.
Online jail records indicate that Austin was arrested on Friday, though the timing of Richardson's custody remains unclear. Sarah Gad, Austin's attorney, did not immediately return a call seeking comment, and court records do not list an attorney for Richardson who could speak on his behalf.
Background of the Protest and Investigation
The Justice Department initiated its investigation after the group disrupted church services by chanting "ICE out" and "Justice for Renee Good," referring to a 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. Cities Church, which belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention, lists one of its pastors as David Easterwood, who leads ICE's St. Paul field office, adding a layer of complexity to the incident.
Among those arrested earlier were independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, along with prominent local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong. Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023 after a challenging tenure as a morning host, has stated that he had no affiliation with the group that entered the church and disrupted the Sunday service, describing himself as an independent journalist documenting the protesters.
The grand jury indictment, unsealed on Friday, names all nine individuals, underscoring the serious nature of the federal charges. This case highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement policies and the intersection of civil rights, religious freedom, and public protest in the United States.
