ST. PAUL, Minn. (BP) – Protestors who disrupted the worship service of a Southern Baptist church and proceeded to “terrorize” attendees, according to an affidavit, will not face state charges for their actions, a city attorney announced on June 4.
According to a statement issued by St. Paul City Attorney Irene Kao, those actions did not constitute sufficient evidence “to meet that standard for criminal charges under Minnesota state statutes.”
“This decision should not be interpreted as an endorsement of unlawful behavior or public disorder,” Kao said. “The right to peacefully protest is protected, as is the right to exercise one’s religious beliefs. Balancing these equally important rights is paramount to our decision today.”
Those words would not reflect the experience of the men, women and children gathered at Cities Church on Jan. 19. That morning, individuals rose from their seats in a coordinated protest against actions by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Former CNN anchor Don Lemon livestreamed the event, asking Pastor Jonathan Parnell for comments as protesters intimidated and harassed others, screaming in their faces and calling them Nazis.
Lemon and others were arrested on federal charges.
In a video on June 3, Parnell referenced comments in Mayor Kaohly Her’s State of St. Paul address from April 20, where she expressed her commitment to “listening” and “lifting” the city to its “full potential.”
“But I wonder, do you include evangelical Christians in that commitment?” he asked. “Or do you only care about those you agree with?”
Parnell, a church planter with the North American Mission Board, will appear before messengers at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting in Orlando next week along with NAMB President Kevin Ezell.
Also on June 3, Parnell joined legal representation from True North Legal in light of Kao’s refusal (failure?) to prosecute those who disrupted Cities Church.
“According to the [Kao’s] logic, it is perfectly fine for agitators to invade a mosque, a cathedral, or a temple, intimidate the families and children inside, and shut down their religious gathering. Just call it a ‘protest,’” Parnell said.
Kao’s statement specified that no violence, property destruction or threats to public safety at Cities Church were supported by admissible evidence.
“That draws an arbitrary line that conveniently excludes statutory charges for other kinds of unlawful conduct,” said Renee Carlson, general counsel for True North Legal. “Just because the agitators didn’t break any windows doesn’t mean they didn’t break the law.
“The City Attorney’s assurance that the rights of religious people in St. Paul are protected means nothing when the governing authorities charged with enforcing those protections refuse to uphold the law.”
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