The anti-ICE protestors who disrupted a church service earlier this year will not face state charges due to lack of evidence, according to prosecutors on Wednesday.
Wednesday’s decision comes after a group of demonstrators has already been federally charged.
According to St. Paul City Attorney Irene Kao, the current evidence remains insufficient to meet the state's standards for criminal charges. Kao added that violence, destruction of property and threats to public safety remain serious concerns, but none of that criminal activity happened during the Jan. 18 demonstration at Cities Church in St. Paul.
“This decision should not be interpreted as an endorsement of unlawful behavior or public disorder,” Kao said in a statement. “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.”
The Trump administration had accused demonstrators of intimidating worshippers as they openly practiced their Christian faith, and called it a violation of their constitutional right and an attack on a place of worship.
Jonathan Parnell, the lead pastor at Cities Church, expressed frustration with the decision to decline state charges.
“According to the St. Paul City Attorney’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.
Lemon has stated that he was simply there covering the demonstration as an independent journalist and livestreamed the protest inside the church. A group that had organized the protest reportedly believed that the pastor was working as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
CNN at the time issued a statement saying the charges against him raise "profound questions" about freedom of the press, arguing the First Amendment protects journalists to ensure they can freely report the news.