State Rep. Leigh Finke, a Democrat from St. Paul, posted on Facebook following an anti-ICE mob storming a local church service, calling the incident “essential” and saying that it “must continue.”
“Actions like this—nonviolent resistance in the face of government inaction or oppression—are essential,” Finke wrote in a Facebook post. “And they must continue until I.C.E. is out of our state, the administration is out of the White House, and dignity and humanity for all of our neighbors is achieved.”
NEW: First Minn. DFL politician that I've seen respond to the mob that stormed Cities Church yesterday. Rep. Leigh Finke calls what happened "essential" and says that it "must continue." pic.twitter.com/nclxuFWs8x
— Hayley Feland (@HayleyFeland) January 19, 2026
On Sunday, about 20 individuals stormed into Cities Church in St. Paul and shut down their morning worship service. The mob screamed at women and children and harassed a young family that was trying to drive away in their vehicle. People in the church were left traumatized, which former CNN reporter Don Lemon said is “what protesting is about.”
Don Lemon sees kids fleeing church: "It is traumatic for the people, and that's what protesting is about" pic.twitter.com/M5zVXHZk96
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 19, 2026
The group cited concerns that one of the church’s pastors is allegedly an ICE officer as the reason for disrupting the church service. Lemon was on the scene livestreaming the entire altercation.
In the past, Finke has defended rioting and called for abolishing the police. “So I’m here to tell you that there will be more riots. We remember Stonewall as a riot and we know now that it was necessary. The next riots will be necessary too,” Finke said during a speech in 2022.
Here’s what happened inside Cities Church today. Look at the terrified child being comforted by his father at 1:05.
If the FACE Act isn’t enforced against these lawless radicals, then expect for this to continue all over the country.@AAGDhillon pic.twitter.com/uV8Btg1tFX
— Denny Burk (@DennyBurk) January 19, 2026
Finke also called ICE agents “Gestapo” in November of last year. The second-term lawmaker was previously endorsed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Gov. Tim Walz.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has indicated that the individuals involved in storming the church will be charged federally.
One of the agitators, who has been identified as William Kelly and goes by the name “Da Woke Farmer” on social media, is a protester who has shown up at events in Washington D.C. as well. “F— those f—ing Nazis,” he said in a TikTok video after disrupting the church service. “Come and get me Pam Bondi.”
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.
