Minneapolis — US Attorney Pam Bondi on Monday announced the arrest of two more people after a protest at a Minnesota church against the immigration crackdown, bringing the number of people arrested to nine.
The names of the nine were revealed in the indictment handed down by the grand jury on Friday. Independent journalists Without lemon Georgia Fort was among four people arrested Friday. Three others were arrested earlier in the week, including prominent local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong.
A Minnesota grand jury indicted all nine Federal civil rights charges of conspiracy and interference with congregants’ First Amendment rights during a January 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. The church pastor is also an official with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Protest Strong objections were generated From the Trump administration,
In a social media post on Monday, Bundy named the latest two arrested as Ian Davis Austin and Jerome Deangelo Richardson. No details were given about their arrest.
Lemon that was It was launched from CNN in 2023 After a bumpy ride as a morning host, he said he had no affiliation with the group that disrupted Sunday services by entering the church. He described himself as an independent journalist who chronicles protesters.
The indictment alleges that Richardson traveled to the church with Lemon during his live broadcast and that Richardson told Lemon that they needed to catch up. It also alleges that Austin stood in the church aisles and loudly berated the pastor with questions about Christian nationalism.
Online jail records show Austin was arrested Friday. It was not immediately clear when Richardson was taken into custody.
Austin’s attorney, Sarah Judd, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Court records do not include an attorney for Richardson who could comment on his behalf.
The Justice Department began its investigation after the group Intermittent services By chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good”, in reference to She is 37 years old and a mother of three children Who was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.
The Cities Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and lists one of its pastors as David Easterwood, who leads ICE’s St. Paul field office.