Don Lemon’s participation in storming a Minnesota church sanctuary during Sunday worship service has sparked outrage over what critics call the traumatization of children in the name of political activism.
Story Snapshot
- Anti-ICE protesters led by Don Lemon disrupted Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota
- Pastor Jonathan Parnell was targeted due to his dual role as church leader and acting ICE field office director
- Federal authorities launched investigation after children were reportedly traumatized during the sanctuary invasion
- Church attacks have surged nationwide with 415 hostile incidents documented in 2024 alone
Sacred Space Becomes Political Battleground
The sanctuary of Cities Church erupted into chaos on Sunday morning when protesters chanting “Justice for Renee Good” burst through the doors during worship service. Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor, led the charge into the sacred space, filming congregants and confronting church leadership. The disruption forced the immediate halt of family worship services, leaving children and families traumatized by the aggressive invasion of their place of worship.
Pastor Jonathan Parnell found himself at the center of the storm due to his unique position serving both as the church’s spiritual leader and as acting ICE field office director for St. Paul. Lemon misidentified Parnell on camera during the confrontation, adding another layer of confusion to an already volatile situation that turned a house of worship into a political theater.
Federal Response Swift and Decisive
Attorney General Pamela Bondi wasted no time responding to the church invasion, personally speaking with the targeted pastor and promising the “full force of federal law” would be brought to bear. DOJ Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced a federal investigation into potential criminal violations, signaling the administration’s commitment to protecting both law enforcement officials and religious freedom.
North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell condemned what he called “lawlessness” on social media, pledging institutional support to protect churches from similar attacks. The swift federal response stands in stark contrast to state-level inaction, highlighting the power dynamics between federal enforcement priorities and local political considerations that often favor activist groups over religious institutions.
Disturbing Pattern of Church Targeting Emerges
This Minnesota incident represents more than an isolated protest gone wrong. The Family Research Council documented 1,384 hostile acts against American churches from 2018 to 2024, with armed incidents doubling from 12 to 28 in the past year alone. These statistics reveal a troubling escalation in the targeting of religious institutions by political activists who increasingly view sacred spaces as legitimate venues for confrontation.
Minnesota’s Section 609.28 explicitly criminalizes obstructing religious access as a gross misdemeanor, yet protesters felt emboldened to storm the sanctuary during active worship. The Supreme Court’s decision in Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church v. EEOC established clear precedent supporting churches’ autonomy to remove disruptors, providing legal backing for the federal investigation into this brazen violation of religious liberty.
Sources:
The Gospel Coalition – FAQs on Churches and Protest in Sanctuary
Daily Mail – Don Lemon ICE Protesters Minnesota Church
PolitiFact – AI Video of Priest Turning Away ICE Agents