The US administration of President Donald Trump has expanded its prosecution of protesters involved in a church demonstration in Minnesota, targeting 39 people. The demonstration was part of a backlash to Trump’s immigration surge in the Midwestern state.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the expanded indictment on Friday, stating that 30 more people have been charged in connection with the protest at Cities Church in St Paul. Bondi wrote on social media, “Today, [the Justice Department] unsealed an indictment charging 30 more people who took part in the attack on Cities Church in Minnesota.”
Bondi added a warning to other protesters who might seek to disrupt a religious service, saying, “YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. If you do so, you cannot hide from us — we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you.”
Background to the Protest
The protest, dubbed “Operation Pullup”, was conceived as a response to the violent immigration crackdown that had unfolded in Minnesota. Many of the enforcement efforts centered on the metropolitan area that includes the Twin Cities: St Paul and Minneapolis.
Trump had repeatedly blamed the area’s large Somali American population for a welfare fraud scandal involving government funds for programs like Medicaid and school lunches. In December, the Trump administration surged federal immigration agents to the region, nicknaming the effort Operation Metro Surge.
Reaction to the Indictment
Some of those indicted deny even being a part of the January 18 protest. Defendants like former CNN anchor Don Lemon and reporter Georgia Fort say they attended in their capacity as journalists. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges and have publicly questioned whether their prosecution is an attempt to curtail freedom of the press.
Civil rights lawyer Nekima Levy Armstrong wrote on social media, “This is not the time to be Minnesota Nice. It’s time for truth, justice, and freedom to prevail.”
Source: Al Jazeera
