A St. Paul woman has filed a federal civil lawsuit against eight anti-ICE activists, alleging they conspired to storm Cities Church during a Sunday service, frighten congregants, block access points, and intentionally disrupt religious worship.
Ann Doucette, who filed the complaint on her own behalf in U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota on Feb. 23, claims the defendants carried out a coordinated operation on Jan. 18 at Cities Church because they believed one of the pastors works for ICE.
According to the filing, the defendants “planned and executed a coordinated disruption” of the service, entering the sanctuary without consent and exceeding any implied invitation.
The complaint says that the group held operational meetings prior to the incident, organized a briefing in a Cub Foods parking lot, and executed what they called “Operation Pullup.”
Screenshots included in an exhibit show the social media promotional material for the Jan. 18 event featuring messaging urging participants to “pull up” and oppose ICE.
In the lawsuit, Doucette says that the anti-ICE agitators entered the church as a coordinated group, shouted, chanted, disrupted prayers, and directed accusations at the pastor. She is suing Don Lemon along with Nekima Levy Armstrong, Georgia Fort, William Kelly, and others involved in storming the church.
Lemon, along with the rest of the listed defendants, are also being charged criminally by the Department of Justice with violations of the FACE Act and conspiracy against the right of religious freedom at a place of worship.
The lawsuit states that Doucette experienced “severe emotional distress, fear, anxiety, and trauma” because of the group’s actions, which she says terrified children and other vulnerable congregants.
She claims that her right to freely exercise her religion was interfered with through threats, obstruction, and disorder inside a private place of worship, and said that the defendants appeared to take satisfaction in the chaos.
Doucette is filing suit for five counts against the defendants, including civil conspiracy and interference with religious exercise.
“Defendants’ conduct was extreme and outrageous, intended or recklessly disregarding the likelihood of causing severe emotional distress,” the complaint reads.
Doucette is seeking damages, attorneys’ fees, and an injunction preventing the defendants and anyone acting with them from entering Cities Church or disrupting future worship services.
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.
