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.

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.

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.

Alex Pretti Protest/Rally After The Shooting And Murder

As I think about this now, I can only say that I never thought we would be where we are in such a short amount of time. As I watched the news play out on MSNBC, inbetween charging batteries, and fielding text messages, like others I saw the standoff. Saw what I thought was peaceful--and yes angry--because a man was murdered, and what we heard from the government we knew we couldn't trust. We needed to see everything with our own eyes, and the rhetoric and politicizing was already beginning.

And this was just a little more than two weeks after Renée Good was shot, murdered as she was driving away with her partner, by a federal ICE agent.

And then it rang true. Alex Pretti had a conceal and carry permit. He lawfully was able to have a gun. He didn't point it at anyone. He was trying to get away, pulled back by ICE, to get disarmed and murdered. If he would have shot in self-defense he would have been seen as the aggressor, a murderer. A domestic terrorist. Everything ICE, Bovino, and Kristy Noem were saying he was, even though he was not.

If murder alone was not enough, it was also trying to be covered up in front of our eyes in real-time. Together they are the fuel that has brought so many people together to grieve, to mourn, and to fight.

Below are pictures after the first standoff between protesters and federal agents after Alex Pretti was shot and murdered. These were taken on Nicollet Ave AKA Eat Street in the hours after the shooting on 1/24/2026.

Click on an image for a larger picture.

Community members sitting on a couch/barricade

Standing on top of a dumpster used as a portion of the barricade

People starting top create the memorial for Alex Pretti

Continuation of the memorial building for Alex Pretti

Higher view of the memorial in progress

Image of the crowd from the back with Glam Donuts to the right, who provided donuts and coffee

Side view of the crowd closer to the speakers

Protester standing above one of the dumpsters used for speakers

One of the speakers, who was detained illegally by ICE, speaking to the crowd with other protesters in support with their arms up

Another protester and speaker along with some others and a press person

Protesters there who started a fire to stay warm (presumably as I did not talk with them)

Some Of The Weapons Being Used On Protesters By ICE After The Alex Pretti Shooting

These pictures were taken on Nicollet in front of Eat Street Dentists after the initial standoff between the first wave of protesters and federal agents. These pictures are not only for documentation but to familiarize other community on the types of weapons being used so they can gather more information on type and size (albeit no one should assume these are the only types of cannisters being used).

Taking a page from Hong Kong protesters, these look like they should fit underneath orange cones to direct the smoke and then use water to extinguish them.

In Video: Clips From The Alex Pretti Protest On 1/24/2026

While I will post more on the Alex Pretti protest/vigil, here are two videos of the protest that were taken on 1/24/2026 down at Eat Street on Nicollet Ave.

Alex Pretti Protest - "Say His Name" Chant - 1/24/2026

This video is from the Alex Pretti protest after he was shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis on Nicollet Ave on Eat Street and contains a clip of crowd chanting "Say His Name".

Alex Pretti Protest - Combined Chant Footage - 1/24/2026

Warning: This video is from the Alex Pretti protest after he was shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis on Nicollet Ave on Eat Street and contains strong language. This video is a small compilation of clips of three different chants: Ice Out (2x from different views) and Say His Name.