Overview
- Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the Civil Rights Division is investigating potential FACE Act violations and warned participants could face prosecution.
- The demonstration, organized by the Racial Justice Network and Black Lives Matter Minnesota and led by Nekima Levy-Armstrong, entered the sanctuary, stopped the service, and prompted many congregants to leave.
- Don Lemon embedded with the group and livestreamed the disruption while defending the protest as protected speech, drawing criticism and scrutiny referenced by DOJ statements.
- Major outlets report no independent confirmation that the pastor targeted by protesters is the same individual listed as an ICE official, and lead pastor Jonathan Parnell—who condemned the disruption—was not the accused pastor.
- Federal officials including Attorney General Pam Bondi signaled possible enforcement, ICE denounced activists for targeting churches, and local reports noted police later arrived as the crowd dispersed.