Protester who stormed St Paul church tells Pam Bondi ‘come and get me’ as DOJ launches probe

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: A far-left activist who stormed a church in St. Paul during a Sunday service has openly taunted the US Department of Justice and Attorney General Pam Bondi, triggering a federal investigation into the incident.

A livestreamed video posted on the Facebook page of Black Lives Matter Minnesota, one of the protest’s organizers, showed a group interrupting services at the church while chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good.”

William Kelly’s storming of cities church and challenge to Pam Bondi

The disruption came amid heightened tensions following a large-scale federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota and the fatal shooting of 37-year‑old Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis, an incident that has sparked widespread protests and local outcry.

On Sunday, January 18, William Kelly, described as a well‑known leftist agitator, stormed the Church while former CNN anchor Don Lemon livestreamed the incident.

Worshippers and children inside the church were reportedly “absolutely terrified” as Kelly, accompanied by BLM activist Nikema Armstrong and Lemon, disrupted the service, confronted parishioners, and shouted at the pastor.

Kelly later likened his actions to Jesus flipping tables in the Temple. He reportedly confronted parishioners and then publicly taunted Bondi and the DOJ in a rant following their announcement of an investigation.

He declared, “Yesterday, I went into a church with Nikema Armstrong and I protested these white supremacists! … They want to come after me? F**k em! Those f**king N*zis! Come and get me, Pam Bondi! You f**kng traitorous b**ch!” 

The protesters allege that one of the church’s pastors, David Easterwood, also leads the lCE's field office that has overseen recent enforcement operations, a claim that helped fuel the demonstration at the Church.

DOJ investigation and Pam Bondi’s response

In response to the incident, Bondi posted on X, "I just spoke to the Pastor in Minnesota whose church was targeted, Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law."

"If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this Department of Justice will remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes and ensure that the rule of law prevails," she continued.

Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, also confirmed that the department is also investigating the incident.

Dhillon wrote in a post, “This heinous act that occurred in Minnesota yesterday is receiving the highest level of attention from The Justice Dept, Pam Bondi & I are working around the clock, because no right in our Constitution is more sacred than the freedom to assemble & pray to God.”

She also stated that the DOJ is investigating the church protest as “potential violations of the federal FACE Act.” The Freedom to Access Clinic Entrances Act of 1994 makes it a federal crime to intimidate or interfere with anyone “seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship,” or attempting to obtain or provide reproductive health services.

The law was originally enacted in response to violent crimes targeting abortion providers and individuals seeking their services.