Protesters disrupted services at Cities Church in St. Paul where a local official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement serves as a pastor.
CLICK https://x.com/SteveAustinWI/status/2013119981047677088 [2:46] to see video of the incident.
CLICK https://x.com/DefiantLs/status/2013224923238412537 [4:02] to hear a man explain why he feels violated by what the protesters did to his church service.
U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said her agency is investigating the incident for possible federal civil rights violations.
CLICK https://x.com/ksoklower48/status/2013094997042872390 [:22] to hear Gov. Walz warn us about how terrible it would be if church services were raided and worshipers harassed.
Surprisingly (to me), the most relevant federal statute may be The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE). While it has primarily been used to prosecute peaceful anti-abortion protesters, it actually prohibits the use of force, threats, or physical obstruction to interfere with individuals seeking reproductive health services or exercising their religious rights at places of worship.
Cities Church could potentially also take this to a local court and sue for criminal trespass. Churches (including their buildings, grounds, parking lots, and related facilities) are typically considered private property, even when they are open to the public for services, events, or general visitation. This means the church leadership (or authorized representatives, like pastors, elders, or property managers) can control access, decide who is welcome, and revoke permission for anyone to be there.
These protesters engaged in criminal trespass by knowingly and intentionally entering to disrupt and then refusing to leave when asked. Penalties vary by state and severity and can include fines, jail time, probation, or community service. Our constitutional rights to gather and express ourselves are only guaranteed on government property. Private property owners get to choose when and how they happen.
CLICK https://x.com/DefiantLs/status/2013222406538543263 [:55] to watch Don Lemon hassle one of the ministers (not the ICE guy), trying to make a case that protesters’ right to freedom of speech somehow supersedes the congregation’s right to worship. They’re in the same amendment!
CLICK https://x.com/michaeljknowles/status/2013290671377887551 [:19] to hear Don Lemon protesting is about making people uncomfortable. The First Amendment actually guarantees “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Traumatizing kids at church doesn’t qualify.
CLICK https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/2013332463578161504 [:44] to hear Don Lemon state, unequivocally, that the members of this church are entitled white supremacists.
CLICK https://x.com/mazemoore/status/2013094694692028909 [:31] to hear Don Lemon’s “rules for thee, not for me” hypocrisy concerning the right to free speech.
SOURCES:
polination.blog 