New Easter arrest at Cities Church protest deepens anti‑ICE clash
On Easter Sunday St. Paul police arrested an unidentified woman outside Cities Church for “interference with religious observance” and violating city sound ordinances after protesters using a bullhorn disrupted services; officers say most protesters complied with warnings but one did not and was taken into custody. The arrest comes amid related federal cases stemming from an earlier anti‑ICE protest in which five defendants pleaded not guilty and were ordered to stay away from Cities Church, a judge previously dropped charges against another defendant, and photojournalist Shane Bollman has moved for grand jury materials alleging press‑freedom and political‑influence concerns.
📌 Key Facts
- Five defendants in the Cities Church anti‑ICE protest made their first federal court appearance on March 25 and entered not‑guilty pleas to charges of interfering with access to religious services.
- The judge imposed conditions barring those defendants from going near Cities Church while the case proceeds.
- Photojournalist defendant Shane Bollman filed a March 24 motion seeking disclosure of all grand jury materials, contending the indictments may have been influenced by public statements and actions by President Trump and his administration and that the grand jury’s probable‑cause finding may rest on "inaccurate or misleading" government representations; a decision on the motion was expected by March 27.
- Bollman and his attorney say he was present as a working member of the media, not a protester, and are framing the case as raising press‑freedom and political‑influence questions.
- On Easter Sunday (April 5), St. Paul police arrested a woman outside Cities Church for "interference with religious observance" and alleged violations of city sound ordinances 293.02 and 293.07.
- Police said officers were on contracted overtime at Cities Church when protesters arrived around 8:35 a.m. using a bullhorn and yelling during services; most protesters complied after warnings, but one woman did not and was arrested.
- The identity of the woman arrested on Easter has not been released.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
April 05, 2026
6:17 PM
Protest at Cities Church in St. Paul leads to woman's arrest on Easter Sunday
New information:
- St. Paul police arrested a woman on Easter Sunday outside Cities Church for 'interference with religious observance' and violating city sound ordinances 293.02 and 293.07.
- Police say officers were on contracted overtime at Cities Church when protesters arrived around 8:35 a.m. using a bullhorn and yelling loudly during services.
- Officers report that most protesters complied after warnings, but one woman did not and was arrested; her identity has not yet been released.
March 25, 2026
11:59 PM
Cities Church protest: 5 defendants plead not guilty to charges
New information:
- Five defendants in the Cities Church anti‑ICE protest made their first federal court appearance Wednesday and all entered not‑guilty pleas to charges of interfering with access to religious services.
- The judge imposed conditions barring these defendants from going near Cities Church while the case proceeds.
- Defendant and photojournalist Shane Bollman filed a March 24 motion seeking disclosure of all grand jury materials, arguing the indictments may have been influenced by public statements and actions by President Trump and his administration.
- Bollman’s motion quotes a concern that the grand jury’s probable‑cause finding may rest on "inaccurate or misleading" government representations, and a decision on the motion is expected by March 27.
- Bollman and his attorney assert he was present as a working member of the media, not a protester, and are positioning the case as raising press‑freedom and political‑influence questions.
March 22, 2026