by Jorge Gomez • 3 minutes
A mob of agitators stormed and disrupted a church during their worship service this past Sunday in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Video shows the troublemakers barging into the sanctuary while shouting, blowing whistles, and getting in the faces of congregants of Cities Church.
“This is a violation of federal law. This is a crime and it should be prosecuted,” explains First Liberty President & CEO Kelly Shackelford. “Federal law is there to protect the First Amendment rights of churches to speak, worship and to not have people intentionally and criminally disrupt their services.”
“This is not something we can tolerate in the United States,” he added. “Action should be taken and should be taken swiftly. It should be very clear that we don’t do this in America.”
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According to the Associated Press, they infiltrated the church to protest one of the pastors, who works for an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Minneapolis. The group was led by Nekima Levy Armstrong, an activist with the Racial Justice Network, which describes itself as a “grassroots organization committed to fighting for racial justice and building bridges across racial, social and economic lines.”
Disruptors can be seen and heard yelling “ICE Out” and “Justice for Renee Good” in shocking video posted by ICE on X.
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the incident and those involved for potential violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a controversial pro-abortion federal law that also includes language protecting places of worship.
That law makes it clear that anyone who uses “force, threats of force, or physical obstruction” to intentionally injure, intimidate, or interfere with or attempts to do so, “with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship,” as a means to advance their disagreement will be held accountable, which can include criminal and civil penalties.
“Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on X late Sunday night.
“If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness,” she added, “this Department of Justice will remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes and ensure that the rule of law prevails.”
“Whoever paid for, coordinated or participated in this attack made a big—BIG—mistake,” said DOJ Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon. “No worshipper in this country should ever feel intimidated in a house of God, and the Justice Department will bring the full force of the law, as directed by AG Pam Bondi.”
Bondi announced on Thursday that federal law enforcement had arrested Armstrong.
“Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP,” she said in an X post.
Minutes ago at my direction, @HSI_HQ and @FBI agents executed an arrest in Minnesota.
So far, we have arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong, who allegedly played a key role in organizing the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
We will share more updates as they…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) January 22, 2026
America is a nation founded on religious freedom. Terrorizing houses of worship and religious communities betrays our founding principles. Harassment against faith-based groups is appalling, and everyone who cherishes freedom and civility should reject such behavior.
That’s why First Liberty is at the forefront of legal battles to ensure houses of worship can live out their faith in peace.
We’re fighting a major federal court case right now against agitators who disrupted multiple worship services in Southern California.
We’re representing The Mission Church in Carlsbad and the Christian & Jewish Alliance, an interfaith organization in the San Diego area. Both have suffered ongoing harassment as they seek to bring churches and synagogues together for worship and prayer.
Last year, the church hosted an event to support Jewish neighbors and the nation of Israel. Posing as ticketed guests, agitators infiltrated the sanctuary, yelling slurs until they were escorted out. More agitators lined up inches outside the door physically obstructing worshippers trying to leave the church, calling church members “Nazis” and yelling, “Mission Church, you can’t hide! We charge you with genocide!”
On Easter Sunday, the same agitators shouted vulgarities through a bullhorn and held bloody signs with pictures of dismembered babies directly across from where children were playing and enjoying Easter activities in the parking lot.
They also blocked entrances and blared loud sirens for three hours at an interfaith worship event hosted by the Christian & Jewish Alliance. They hit worshippers’ cars, called them “baby-killers,” pushed a Jewish guest into a busy street, and refused to leave even after the police arrived. At least three of the named defendants are local leaders of Code Pink San Diego, a group known for its antisemitism.
In the face of increased hostility, one thing is clear: we need religious liberty more than ever. Will you donate to First Liberty today and help us keep leading the fight to protect our God-given rights?
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