Anti-ICE Activist Arrest Shocks Minnesota

(LibertySociety.com) – A Minnesota state senate candidate and government employee married to a city council member now faces federal charges for disrupting a church service, exposing the deep political connections behind radical anti-ICE activism.

Story Highlights

Jamael Lydell Lundy, a Hennepin County employee and state senate candidate married to St. Paul City Council Member Anika Bowie, was arrested for disrupting worship at Cities Church on January 18, 2026
Federal authorities charged Lundy and three others, including former CNN journalist Don Lemon, with conspiracy and interfering with worshipers’ First Amendment rights
The protest targeted the church because Pastor David Easterwood serves as head of ICE’s St. Paul field office, with demonstrators chanting against immigration enforcement
Attorney General Pam Bondi directed the arrests personally, warning that violating religious freedom rights will trigger federal prosecution under the Trump administration

Political Insider Arrested in Church Disruption

Jamael Lydell Lundy holds a position as intergovernmental affairs manager in the office of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty while running for Minnesota state senate. His arrest on January 29, 2026, reveals troubling connections between radical activism and Democratic political infrastructure in Minnesota. Lundy is married to St. Paul City Council Member Anika Bowie, yet neither his wife nor his boss have commented on his participation in the church disruption. The silence from these officials raises serious questions about accountability when government employees engage in coordinated attacks on religious freedom.

Federal Charges Protect Religious Liberty

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrests on January 30, 2026, emphasizing the Trump administration’s commitment to defending Americans’ right to worship without harassment. Federal prosecutors charged Lundy, Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, and Georgia Fort with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of churchgoers at Cities Church in St. Paul. Bondi stated clearly: “If you violate that right, we are coming after you.” This represents a welcome shift from the previous administration’s tolerance of leftist disruption tactics. The charges mark an unprecedented federal response to protect houses of worship from coordinated attacks by immigration activists.

Anti-ICE Protesters Target Church Over Pastor’s Role

On January 18, 2026, protesters stormed Cities Church during a Sunday service, chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referring to a woman fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. The demonstration specifically targeted the Southern Baptist church because Pastor David Easterwood serves as head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s St. Paul field office. This calculated assault on worshipers represents exactly the kind of leftist intolerance conservatives have warned about for years. The activists chose to violate the sacred space of a church service rather than exercise their protest rights through lawful means that respect others’ freedoms.

BLM Leader and Journalists Face Federal Prosecution

Among those arrested alongside Lundy was Trahern Jeen Crews, a Black Lives Matter Minnesota leader active since the George Floyd protests, and two individuals claiming journalist status—former CNN anchor Don Lemon and independent journalist Georgia Fort. Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles while covering the Grammy Awards, with his attorney Abbe Lowell claiming First Amendment protections for journalism. However, the Trump administration’s Justice Department drew a clear line between legitimate reporting and participation in criminal disruption of religious services. Civil rights attorney Jordan Kushner called the federal charges against nonviolent protesters “beyond the pale,” but conservatives understand this prosecutorial action defends the fundamental right of Americans to worship without fear of mob intimidation.

Precedent Set Against Targeting Houses of Worship

The arrests followed warnings from the Trump administration about impending federal action against the January 18 church protesters. A previous group including civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong had already been arrested for the same incident, triggering a DOJ civil rights investigation. Pastor Jonathan Parnell expressed gratitude for the Department of Justice’s protection of his congregation’s mission and rights. This firm response sends an essential message: the radical left cannot weaponize immigration debates to terrorize religious communities exercising their constitutional freedoms. The case establishes critical precedent that federal civil rights laws protect worshipers from coordinated disruption, regardless of activists’ stated political motivations or media connections.