Lemon, others charged in Minnesota church protest to be arraigned Friday in court

The court appearance is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Published: February 13, 2026 8:27am

Former CNN host Don Lemon and others charged in connection to a protest during a Minnesota church service over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in the state will be arraigned Friday.

The incident occurred Jan. 18 at the Cities Church in St. Paul. 

Lemon and the church protesters were arrested and are facing federal charges that include conspiracy to deprive rights and interfering with religious freedoms, under what is known as the federal FACE Act

Protesters at the church demanded a pastor resign, saying he also serves as the acting director for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Minneapolis, according to local TV station FOX 9.

Lemon says he was at the protest as a journalist, livestreaming the protesters.

He has hired former U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson as part of his legal team. Thompson resigned from his government position after being pressured to investigate the widow of Renee Good. Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent after she appeared to attempt to ram him with her vehicle.

The other protesters who will be arraigned include Nekima Levy Armstrong, a lawyer and social justice advocate, St. Paul School Board member Chauntyll Allen, William Kelly, Ian Davis Austin, and Jerome Deangelo Richardson.

The Facts Inside Our Reporter's Notebook

Unlock unlimited access

  • No Ads Within Stories
  • No Autoplay Videos
  • VIP access to exclusive Just the News newsmaker events hosted by John Solomon and his team.
  • Support the investigative reporting and honest news presentation you've come to enjoy from Just the News.
  • Just the News Spotlight

    Support Just the News