January 30, 2026
Mr. Carter of Georgia submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
Condemning the violent disruption of a religious worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, reaffirming the constitutional right to religious freedom, and commending the Department of Justice for its prompt investigation.
Whereas, on January 18th, 2026, a group of protesters forcibly disrupted a religious worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, interfering with congregants’ ability to peacefully assemble and freely exercise their faith;
Whereas reports and video evidence indicate that individuals entered the sanctuary during an active church service, shouted over clergy, physically obstructed the service, intimidated worshipers, and created a threatening environment for families and children in attendance;
Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees the free exercise of religion, including the right to worship without intimidation, coercion, or violence;
Whereas places of religious worship occupy a uniquely protected position under Federal law due to their constitutional significance and their role in American civic life;
Whereas the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (18 U.S.C. 248) makes it unlawful to use or attempt to use force, threat of force, or physical obstruction to intentionally intimidate or interfere with any person lawfully exercising their religious beliefs at a place of religious worship;
Whereas the FACE Act provides criminal penalties and civil remedies for violations involving interference with religious worship, recognizing such conduct as a serious civil rights offense;
Whereas according to publicly available reports, media coverage, and video documentation, Don Lemon was present during the disruption of the worship service at Cities Church and actively joined individuals participating in the disturbance of the service;
Whereas participation by a nationally recognized media figure in the disruption of a religious worship service represents a profound abuse of public influence and lends legitimacy to unlawful conduct targeting people of faith;
Whereas public figures who physically join or amplify disruptive acts against houses of worship contribute to intimidation, escalate tensions, and undermine constitutional protections for religious exercise;
Whereas while peaceful protest is protected under the First Amendment, entering a church during a worship service to disrupt, intimidate, or obstruct religious exercise is not protected speech and is inconsistent with Federal law and American values; and
Whereas failure to clearly condemn such conduct, especially when committed or endorsed by influential individuals, risks normalizing religious intimidation and emboldening future attacks on Americans exercising their faith: Now, therefore, be it
Sec.
That the House of Representatives—
(1)
strongly condemns the protest and riot that disrupted a religious worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota;
(2)
affirms that the free exercise of religion is a fundamental constitutional right that must be protected from intimidation, obstruction, and violence;
(3)
declares that targeting houses of worship for disruption or harassment constitutes an attack on religious liberty and the rule of law;
(4)
recognizes that the actions taken during this incident may constitute violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (18 U.S.C. 248) and other applicable Federal civil rights laws;
(5)
condemns Don Lemon for joining and participating in the disruption of a religious worship service, thereby lending credibility and encouragement to conduct that interferes with the constitutional rights of worshipers;
(6)
commends the Department of Justice for its prompt investigation into the events surrounding this incident, including the conduct of all individuals involved, and to fully enforce the FACE Act and other relevant Federal statutes of the law; and
(7)
urges Federal, State, and local authorities to ensure that Americans may worship freely and safely without fear of intimidation, disruption, or violence.