Defendants in Cities Church protest case in St. Paul, Minnesota, seek to dismiss federal charges

Defendants and their supporters gathered at the St. Paul Federal Courthouse this week for hearings in the federal case arising from a January 2026 anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. The first of four scheduled hearings addressed more than five dozen motions filed in the case, many of them requests to have the charges dismissed. Two more hearings are set for 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10.

The protest took place on Jan. 18. Demonstrators chanted in opposition to a church pastor who was, at the time, a high-ranking ICE official. Prosecutors allege that the demonstrators engaged in “intimidation, threats, interference and physical obstruction.” All 38 defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Among the motions, one argues that the superseding indictment does not state an offense that meets the legal definition of use of physical force, threats of violence, or fully blockading exits or entrances. According to the indictment, prosecutors claim the defendants “oppressed, threatened and intimidated the church’s congregants” by occupying physical space. The indictment also claims that chants including “This is what community looks like” and “ICE out of Minnesota” were threatening. The motion to dismiss contends that the conduct described, “even if proved true, fails as a matter of law to meet the elements of the charged offense.”

Another motion claims that the defendants have been singled out for selective or vindictive prosecution under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a 1994 law passed in response to violent anti-abortion protests at clinics. In a news release about the hearings, the defendants described the case as a “politically motivated prosecution by the Trump administration.” The source reports these as the defendants’ claims and does not independently establish them.

Levy Armstrong, who was the subject of a doctored photo posted to the White House X account, called the charges “a clear targeted attack.” She and her fellow defendants said they will keep pushing until all charges are dropped. Speaking at a news conference after the first hearing on Tuesday, Levy Armstrong said, “There are so many gaping holes, so much nonsensical information that has come forth, and a lack of integrity on the part of those prosecutors representing the Justice Department.”

The government has previously accused the defendants of attempting to “micromanage the government’s prosecution.” Whether the court will grant any of the pending motions has not been reported, and the remaining hearings are scheduled for next week. Weighing competing claims openly before a judge reflects the value of truth and fairness (Proverbs 18:17).

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