'Peaceful protest'? St. Paul city officials absolve rioters who invaded and disrupted church * WorldNetDaily * by Bob Unruh
Don Lemon
Web personality Don Lemon filmed a stunt that was set up by anti-ICE radicals to invade a St. Paul church, disrupt the worship, terrify children and intimidate congregants.
He and dozens of others already are facing federal charges for their violence.
But city officials in the Minnesota enclave claim there’s “insufficient” evidence to support state charges, and the church’s pastor has a message for the mayor, Kaohly Her:
The city of Saint Paul has officially determined the January 18 invasion of our church and the desecration of our worship to be a “peaceful protest.”
Here’s my question for Mayor Her: pic.twitter.com/DscBzqKCzU
— Jonathan Parnell (@jonathanparnell) June 3, 2026
“Mayor Her, on April 20, in your address on the state of St. Paul, you said that you are committed to listening and to acting and to lifting St. Paul higher to its full potential. But I wonder, do you include Evangelical Christians in the commitment? Or do you only care about those you agree with? You have left us to wonder this.”
The stunt developed last winter when part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration and border law scofflaws had federal agents making arrests through the Minneapolis-St. Paul region.
Lemon took part in a planned and staged event where radicals broke into a church, Cities Church, during a worship service, screamed at families, told children their parents are going to hell, blockaded parents from reaching their children and more.
Lemon confronted the pastor with his political diatribe, and the pastor explained the congregation was there to worship Jesus.
Reports explained the violent protesters invaded the church because a pastor was reportedly acting as the director of a local Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.
The protesters’ actions were described as intimidating, menacing and oppressive.
Lemon was on hand, taking part in and filming events.
He even lectured the pastor about the First Amendment, after the minister told Lemon, “This is unacceptable. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship…”
Lemon ranted, “Listen, there’s a constitution, the First Amendment to freedom of speech and freedom to assemble and protest.”
He demanded to know if the pastor tried to talk with the radicals.
The pastor said, “We’re here to worship Jesus because the hope of the world is Jesus Christ…”
NEW: Don Lemon tries lecturing a pastor on the First Amendment after a mob of far leftists stormed a church in Minneapolis.
Pastor: “This is unacceptable. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship…”
Lemon: “Listen, there’s a constitution, the First… pic.twitter.com/joHdCvaXe6
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 18, 2026
Lemon has claimed he’s immune to any charges because he’s a “journalist,” although federal prosecutors didn’t adopt his argument.
Charges from the incident now include conspiracy to deprive rights and violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances.
Social media commenters pointed out, “The City of St. Paul can say whatever they want. Their OPINION doesn’t negate the Supremacy Clause. The DOJ will make that determination.”
One turned sarcastic: “This is great news! Since rights to religious freedom and peaceful protest balance, Jews and their friends can invade mosques in St. Paul and disrupt services in peaceful protest against the murderous acts of Hamas.”
A report at Not the Bee carried the city attorney’s statement about local charges: “Our office has a legal and ethical obligation to file charges only when the available evidence establishes probable cause and supports a reasonable likelihood of conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. Following a careful evaluation of the video footage, investigative reports, and other available materials, prosecutors determined that the current evidence is insufficient to meet that standard for criminal charges under Minnesota state statutes.”
A church pastor pointed out, “According to the city attorney’s logic, it is perfectly fine for agitators to invade a mosque, a cathedral, or a temple, shout in people’s faces, terrorize their children, and shut down their religious gathering. Just call it a ‘protest.'”
Bob Unruh