Church congregant filed lawsuit against alleged Minnesota church protesters
#Church protest lawsuit #Don Lemon legal trouble #Cities Church St. Paul #Religious freedom charges #ICE protest church #Nekima Levy Armstrong #Federal civil rights charges
📌 Key Takeaways
- Church member filed federal lawsuit against Don Lemon and others for disrupting worship service
- Lawsuit alleges civil conspiracy, emotional distress, and interference with religious exercise
- All eight defendants face federal charges for conspiracy against religious freedom
- Protest reportedly targeted church due to pastor's alleged role with ICE
📖 Full Retelling
The incident represents the latest legal action tied to protests in the Twin Cities, where tensions remain high over the Trump administration's immigration policies and the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Lemon was arrested in California in January after covering the protest and was released on personal recognizance bond before a federal grand jury in Minnesota returned the indictment against him and his co-defendants. Levy Armstrong's arrest drew national attention after the White House shared doctored photos on social media of her appearing to be crying, though she has also denied the allegations 'with empathy and compassion' as stated by Crews regarding his own situation. The legal proceedings highlight the intersection of religious freedom, first amendment rights, and immigration politics in contemporary American society.
🏷️ Themes
Religious Freedom, First Amendment Rights, Immigration Politics, Legal Consequences
📚 Related People & Topics
Nekima Levy Armstrong
American lawyer and activist (born 1976)
Nekima Valdez Levy Armstrong (née Levy-Pounds, born June 27, 1976) is an American lawyer and social justice activist. She was president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP from 2015 to 2016. She has led a variety of organizations that focus on issues of racial equality and disparity in the Minne...
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Original Source
Church congregant filed lawsuit against alleged Minnesota church protesters The complaint alleges that protesters, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon, at Cities Church in St. Paul, interfered with the plaintiff's religious freedom. Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., on Jan. 19, 2026. Angelina Katsanis / AP Share Add NBC News to Google Feb. 26, 2026, 12:51 PM EST By Isabel Yip Listen to this article with a free account 00:00 00:00 A St. Paul church member has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that a group of individuals, including journalist Don Lemon and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, unlawfully disrupted service last month as part of a coordinated political demonstration. The complaint, filed by Ann Doucette in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota, alleges that a Jan. 18 demonstration at Cities Church interfered with her ability to worship and caused her to suffer damages, including emotional distress and trauma. In addition to the former CNN anchor and Armstrong, the complaint names journalist Georgia Fort, and activists Will Kelly, Jerome Richardson, Trahern Crews and Jamael Lundy. It also names St. Paul school Board Member Chauntyll Allen. Doucette and seven of the defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Doucette filed the complaint without the representation of an attorney. In an emailed statement to NBC News, Crews denied the lawsuit’s allegations “with empathy and compassion.” The lawsuit accuses the group of civil conspiracy, aiding and abetting, intentional infliction of emotional distress, interference with religious exercise, and trespassing. “As a result of Defendants’ actions, the worship service was disrupted, congregants experienced fear and distress, and Plaintiff’s ability to freely exercise her religion in a private place of worship was unlawfully interfered with,” the lawsuit says. All eight defendants are also facing federal charges for conspiracy against the rights of religious freedom at a place of worship and for inte...
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