Three Defendants Accused Of Storming Cities Church During Worship, As Officials Say The Action Crossed From Protest Into Intimidation At House Of Worship

Friday, January 23, 2026, 12:45 P.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodge, Political Editor: Englebook Independent News,

ST. PAUL, MN.- Federal authorities have arrested and federally charged three people accused of forcing their politics into a Sunday worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota—an incident that included a livestream by former CNN host Don Lemon and left congregants describing an atmosphere of intimidation inside a sanctuary.

     The three defendants publicly identified by Trump administration officials are:

• Nekima Levy Armstrong
• Chauntyll Louisa Allen
• William Kelly

     The Justice Department opened a civil-rights investigation after the January 18, 2026, disruption, with senior officials signaling the case would be evaluated under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act of 1994, which, among other provisions, makes it a federal crime to intimidate, threaten, or interfere with individuals exercising religious freedom at a place of worship.

What Happened Inside The Church;

     According to reporting and public statements from officials, demonstrators entered Cities Church during Sunday morning worship and interrupted the service with chants including “ICE out” and “Justice for Renée Good,” referencing a Minneapolis woman who was fatally shot earlier this month during an ICE-related incident that has fueled protests in Minnesota.

     Video and witness accounts indicate the disturbance lasted roughly 25 minutes before the group exited the sanctuary. St. Paul police responded after receiving multiple calls regarding the disruption, arriving after the demonstrators had moved outside.

     Church leadership later stated that the demonstrators accosted congregants and frightened children, describing the intrusion as deliberate intimidation rather than lawful protest. Those claims were included in the church’s public statement and are now central to the federal government’s assessment of the incident.

The Federal Charges And Where The FACE Act Fits;

     As of this week, administration officials have confirmed that the arrests stem from alleged violations of a 1994 federal law protecting access to houses of worship, as well as related civil rights statutes.

     Reuters reported the arrests were made under the federal statute barring obstruction or intimidation at religious institutions, and Justice Department officials have publicly discussed potential civil-rights conspiracy charges tied to interference with constitutionally protected religious activity.

      Separately, leadership within the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division stated that the case is under review for possible FACE Act violations, reinforcing that federal prosecutors view intimidation within a church as a serious crime, not a protected form of activism.

     Public reporting also indicates that a Minnesota federal magistrate judge declined to approve a proposed complaint against Don Lemon related to his presence during the incident. The three demonstrators, however, were taken into custody and processed through federal court proceedings.

Who The Defendants Are: Backgrounds On The Record;

     Nekima Levy Armstrong is identified in multiple reports as a civil rights attorney and longtime activist. She previously served as president of the Minneapolis NAACP chapter and has been involved in high-profile protest movements tied to police-involved deaths in Minnesota, including those of George Floyd, Philando Castile, and Jamar Clark.

     Chauntyll Louisa Allen is a sitting member of the St. Paul School Board. St. Paul Public Schools acknowledged her arrest in a public statement, noting it would not comment further due to the pending legal matter.

     William Kelly is described in reporting as a protest participant who publicly defended the church disruption. The Washington Post reported that Kelly posted a video online after being identified, daring authorities to arrest him.

A Line Crossed: Protest Versus Persecution Of Worship;

     The facts laid out by major news organizations and the church’s own account converge on a single conclusion: this was not a sidewalk demonstration or a permitted rally. It was a deliberate incursion into a worship service, a tactic that predictably generates fear and disruption, particularly in a setting where families and children are present.

     Federal officials have framed the arrests as a clear warning that political activism does not grant a license to commandeer religious services. Attorneys representing the church have publicly praised the federal response, emphasizing that houses of worship are protected spaces under federal law.

Editor’s Note:

This report was written by Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor for Englebrook Independent News, and is based on contemporaneous coverage and official statements from major outlets, including Reuters, the Associated Press, ABC News, The Washington Post, and Axios. Certain procedural details, such as specific counts in the federal complaints, were publicly described by federal officials, while the underlying court documents were not yet broadly available at the time of publication. Statements regarding frightened children and congregant intimidation are attributed directly to the church’s published account.