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A member of Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, has filed a federal lawsuit against a group of activists and journalists, including Don Lemon and Nekima Levy Armstrong, accusing them of unlawfully disrupting a worship service on January 18. The lawsuit, filed by Ann Doucette in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota, claims the protest was part of a coordinated political demonstration targeting the church's pastor, who is linked to federal immigration enforcement.
According to the complaint, the protestors, which included Georgia Fort, Will Kelly, Jerome Richardson, Trahern Crews, Jamael Lundy, and St. Paul school board member Chauntyll Allen, entered the church during the service, chanting slogans like "ICE Out!" and "Hands Up, Don’t Shoot!" Doucette alleges that their actions caused severe emotional distress and interfered with her ability to worship.
The lawsuit accuses the defendants of civil conspiracy, aiding and abetting, intentional infliction of emotional distress, interference with religious exercise, and trespassing. It seeks monetary damages and a court order preventing the defendants from entering the church or disrupting future services. The protest, dubbed "Operation Pullup," was reportedly organized to confront the church’s pastor, David Easterwood, who serves as an acting director of an ICE field office.
The protest has led to federal charges against the defendants for conspiracy against rights of religious freedom and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. All defendants, including Lemon, have pleaded not guilty, with Lemon stating that the case is about press freedom.
Doucette’s lawsuit highlights the impact on congregants, describing scenes of fear and distress. The suit alleges that Lemon livestreamed the protest, noting congregants’ reactions, and that the protest was promoted on social media.