More People Are Indicted For The City Church Protests + Is Religion A Shield For Anything?

A few days ago according to news reports there were more indictments against protesters at the City Church:

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced charges Friday against 30 more people who are accused of civil rights violations in a January protest inside a Minnesota church where a pastor works for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Bondi said on social media that 25 people were in custody and more arrests would follow. The new indictment comes a month after independent journalists 

Don Lemon and Georgia Fort and prominent local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong were charged for their alleged roles in the protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

According to the reports there are a total of 39 people that have been charged/indicted for interfering with religious rights and freedoms. 

People will say this next question is hyperbolic in nature, but does religious freedom protect those who are complicit in systems that are racist, xenophobic, illegal, and allowed agents to murder and perform multiple aggravated assaults against non-violent persons which have all been challenged, and took away civil rights of citizens, and deported legal immigrants?

I don't think that anyone doing a peaceful protest, even in a church and during a church service, should be indicted for that protest. To be indicted at a federal level is part and parcel for this administration and its watch dogs in order to use religion to cover up illegal activities. 

Target Sit-In: 1650 New Brighton Blvd. Minneapolis MN 1/31/2026

These pictures were taken at the Target Sit-In at the New Brighton Blvd Store. The protest was organized at that location by The Minneapolis Federation of Educators, Local 59. It was great to be there to both cover and participate. Thank you to all those who were there, which included a mix of educators, families, and other community members o protest Target's involvement with ICE.

Click on an image for a larger version.

This was the scene early on after gathering at the front entrance where the Target center employee set rules, etc. The group positioned themselves here for the beginning.

The protesters on the sides of the isle.

Sit-In protesters holding signs saying for ICE to be out and for Target to speak out.

Sit-In protesters holding signs asking for Target to be held accountable for being complicit.

The group being addressed by Marcia Howard (of the Minneapolis Federation of Educators) who was leading many of the sit-in chants.

Marcia Howard at the Target sit-in with protesters (many inside who were teachers) and Saint Paul Police in the background.

Marcia Howard waiting after speaking.

Protesters on the way out of Target.

Another set of protesters heading outside after Target asked protesters to leave.

Right outside of the exit doors protesters wave signs and chant.

Protesters outside of the Target.

Protesters lined up outside of Target on the sidewalk.

Target employees holding the line of protesters and guiding traffic.

Target Asks Minneapolis Protesters To Leave (Video)

 

This clip is from the Target Sit-Ins, at its store on New Brighton Blvd in Minneapolis on 1/31/2026. Protesters had not been there long, and it had been peaceful from the beginning. The protest was organized at that location by the The Minneapolis Federation of Educators, Local 59.

Shorts: ICE Out Of MN/Hey Hey Goodbye #target #sitins

 

ICE Out Of Minnesota Target Sit-Ins: 1300 University Avenue Saint Paul, MN 1/31/2026

This is from the the Target sit-ins at the University Ave Saint Paul location towards the end of the sit-in and protest. It was great to see so many people who showed up.

Thank you to everyone there, those who organized; and to the two women who said hello to me while there--thank you so much for the kind words.

I will be looking to add images in a later post.

Everyone From The Citizen Church Protests Are Out But Federal Cases Are Still Pending

It is great that everyone who was picked up for the Citizen Church protests are no longer in custody and they can be home with their families. 

But it is key to remember that they still have federal cases against them.

Some like Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Allen (and there could be others with similar restrictions) have had to surrender their passports and cannot leave the state. 

And there are still questions surrounding due process. 

Until those federal cases are have been dropped (at the very least) there continues to be no justice.

Stand With Georgia Fort, Trahern Jeen Crews, Jamael Lydell Lundy, And Don Lemon

Link To Live Video

Earlier this morning local independent journalist Georgia Fort as well as protesters Trahern Jeen Crews, and Jamael Lydell Lundy were taken into custody by federal agents. National independent journalist Don Lemon was also taken into custody as well. Fort and Lemon were taken into custody for covering the Citizen Church protest while Crews and Lundy were taken into custody for being protesters at the church.

This was Pam Bondi's message on X.

We should all remember our 1st Amendment Rights at this time as we stand with them in protest and power. We should all remember these were not coordinated "attacks" but a protest to help try and shine a light on where ICE leaders are hiding as they are all complicit in what is happening in our state.

First Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.