No state charges for Cities Church protesters, federal charges pending

By Elyse Apel
The Center Square

Protesters who disrupted a Sunday worship service at Cities Church in January will not face state criminal charges, according to a decision announced last week by the St. Paul City Attorney’s Office.

City Attorney Irene Kao said prosecutors reviewed video footage and other evidence related to the Jan. 18 protest before determining there was insufficient evidence “to meet that standard for criminal charges under Minnesota state statutes.”

“This decision should not be interpreted as an endorsement of unlawful behavior or public disorder,” Kao said. “The right to peacefully protest is protected, as is the right to exercise one’s religious beliefs. Balancing these equally important rights is paramount to our decision today.”

Backlash to the decision came quickly.

U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, criticized the announcement in a post on social media on Monday.

“No state charges for ‘activists’ that stormed a church,” Jordan said. “No cooperation with federal immigration law. No serious investigation into the fraud until President Trump stepped in. Democrat-run Minnesota.”

The protest, which interrupted a Sunday morning service at the St. Paul church, drew national attention after demonstrators disrupted services while protesting the Jan. 7 death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good.

Video posted by Black Lives Matter Minnesota showed protesters chanting “ICE out” and “justice for Renee Good” during the service. Another video circulating on social media shows protesters calling congregants “pretend Christians” and “comfortable white people.”

Jonathan Parnell, the lead pastor of Cities Church, criticized the announcement.

“According to the St. Paul City Attorney’s logic, it is perfectly fine for agitators to invade a mosque, a cathedral, or a temple, intimidate the families and children inside, and shut down their religious gathering,” Parnell said in a statement. “Just call it a ‘protest.’”

Federal authorities have taken a far different approach than the state to the incident, bringing charges in March against dozens of people accused of participating in the protest. So far, they have charged at least 39 protesters in connection with the protest, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon.

“YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. If you do so, you cannot hide from us—we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you,” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. “This Department of Justice STANDS for Christians and all Americans of faith.”

Those charged federally face allegations of conspiracy against the right of religious freedom at a place of worship and interfering with the exercise of religious freedom at a place of worship. The charges fall under the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994, which prohibits obstruction or threats at abortion clinics and places of worship.

The federal prosecutions followed widespread calls for accountability after the incident gained national attention.

Caleb Phillips, a congregant at Cities Church, told The Center Square in an exclusive interview how the incident was for those in the church.

“The entire congregation came alive. Individuals who are planted from front to back throughout the entire place stood up,” Phillips said. “It felt like we were surrounded, because they were all throughout the congregation.”