While ICE agents have been pulling out of Minneapolis in recent weeks, the litigation surrounding the unrest over the last few months is lingering. Here is a look at the latest charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) against protestors.

DOJ Confirms More Charges in Controversial Minneapolis Church Protest

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced late last month that the DOJ has charged 30 more people in connection with an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church. The protestors allegedly interrupted a Sunday church service on January 18, claiming that Pastor David Easterwood was working as the acting director of the St. Paul Field Office of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The 30 protestors were indicted on criminal charges in connection with this incident at the Cities Church. Bondi did not personally identify the defendants, nor did she give specific information about the charges brought against them.

The indictment was officially unsealed on February 27. Bondi said that the defendants participated in what she called an "attack" at the church. This protest was part of the same demonstration at Cities Church where journalist Don Lemon was arrested. Lemon continues to assert that he was covering the protest as a journalist, denying any illegal activity.

At least eight other people, in addition to Lemon, were arrested in connection with this particular demonstration. The people identified in these arrests are Chauntyll Louisa Allen, William Kelly, Nekima Levy Armstrong, Georgia Fort, Trahern Jeen Crews, Jamael Lydell Lundy, Ian Davis Austin, and Jerome Deangelo Richardson.

Why All of the Unrest in Minneapolis?

The unrest in Minneapolis stems from an elevated ICE presence at the beginning of the year. The situation escalated on January 7 when an ICE agent shot and killed an American citizen. The killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good led to widespread protests across the country. Just a few weeks later, ICE agents killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti, also on the streets of Minneapolis. This event added more fuel to the fire while putting pressure on the federal government to pull back on the ICE presence in the Twin Cities.

The DOJ previously said that it was investigating the protest at Cities Church for being a possible violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. Dating back to 1994, this piece of legislation leans on the First Amendment to protect access to religious worship.

This law prohibits the act of "intentionally injuring, intimidating, or interfering with” an individual attempting to seek or provide services at places of worship and reproductive health facilities or places of worship. There is a bit of a gray area, as the statute specifies that the act should not be used to ban forms of expressive conduct. This includes the act of peaceful picketing or other forms of non-violent demonstrations.

FACE has traditionally been used to protect citizen access to abortion clinics or churches. This makes it unusual that Lemon is citing the legislation in his defense. First-time offenders of this law face up to a year in prison if convicted.

The Trump administration recently said that past presidential teams used FACE to intentionally target Americans in their places of worship.

According to a 14-page grand jury indictment, the nine defendants who were arrested due to their conduct at Cities Church now face a variety of charges. These charges include conspiring against the rights of religious freedom at a place of worship and injuring, interfering with, and intimidating with exercising the rights of religious freedom of worship. The additional 30 defendants will likely face similar charges.

Lemon appeared at a hearing on February 13, entering a not guilty plea. His attorney said that his client has been a journalist for 30 years, noting that Lemon's practice of journalism is a "constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis." Legal experts believe that Lemon's case is serving as a test of the freedom of the press.

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