Federal court documents allege that anti-ICE agitators who disrupted a worship service at Cities Church blocked stairways to the childcare area, preventing parents from reaching their children amid the chaos.
According to an affidavit, one victim told investigators that parishioners attempted to retrieve their children from childcare but “the agitators were blocking the stairs, and the parents were unable to get to their children.”
The document, based on interviews by Homeland Security Investigations and FBI agents, describes additional claims of intimidation. One agitator allegedly screamed in the faces of young children while they cried. Other accounts include an agitator telling a child that their parents were “Nazis” who would “burn in hell.”
One victim told investigators that congregants at the church “were terrorized, our children were weeping, college students and young women were sobbing, it was impactful and it will take time to work through.”
🚨HORRIFYING NEW DETAILS
The invasion of Cities Church was even worse than we thought.
Agitators blocked stairs so "parents were unable to get to their children" at Sunday School.😡
One told a kid, "Do you know your parents are Nazis, they're going to burn in hell?"
🧵1/7 pic.twitter.com/DUNPRdECGa
— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) January 25, 2026
The disruption occurred when about 30 to 40 agitators disrupted the church mid-service, chanting and accusing a pastor of working for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The protest was livestreamed by ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon, who filmed himself questioning the lead pastor, Jonathan Parnell.
Federal authorities arrested three people on Jan. 22. Thus far, those arrested included civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, St. Paul School Board member Chauntyll Allen and William Kelly.
In a recent Fox News interview, Parnell denounced the protesters’ actions as creating “a scene marked by intimidation and threat” and said that they are “prayerfully considering” legal options, including a potential lawsuit.“
“The First Amendment protects the God-given rights of every American to assemble and to worship God. It does not give anyone the right to invade a church and terrorize worshippers. That’s a federal crime: the FACE Act prohibits intimidating or interfering with people worshipping in a church,” said Doug Wardlow, an attorney for True North Legal, which is representing Cities Church.
“It is outrageous that, instead of doing their jobs and protecting Minnesotans’ rights, state officials like Keith Ellison choose to mock the invasion of a church. Thankfully, the U.S. Department of Justice acted decisively by arresting those who coordinated and carried out the terrible crime.”
Meanwhile, supporters of the activists have launched a GoFundMe campaign titled “Minnesota Activists Legal Defense” to raise money to cover their legal fees. The page, organized by community members on behalf of Armstrong, Allen and Kelly, has raised nearly $18,200 toward a $20,000 goal as of Jan. 26.
The description characterizes the Jan. 18 event as a “peaceful” demonstration highlighting ICE’s impact on families and claims the arrests represent targeting of black leaders and women to silence dissent.
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson has launched a GiveSendGo campaign to help fundraise to cover Cities Church’s legal fees and increased security measures.
All three of the arrested individuals have been released pending trial, and Attorney General Pam Bondi said that the Department of Justice will continue to pursue charges against the other agitators, including Lemon. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said they “will identify & hold accountable every person who unlawfully interrupted this church service.”
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
