With all eyes on Minnesota, Rep. Buddy Carter (R., Ga.) plans to introduce a resolution, obtained exclusively by the Washington Reporter, that reaffirms the constitutional rights of Americans to “religious freedom, and commending the Department of Justice for its prompt investigation” into a series of left-wing agitators who disrupted a church service in the North Star State.
On January 18, a group of protesters filmed themselves disrupting church services at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Carter’s resolution notes that the protesters “shouted over clergy, physically obstructed the service, intimidated worshipers, and created a threatening environment for families and children in attendance.”
Within hours of the protest that disrupted church services, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel announced that charges had been filed against several of the agitators, who argued that they stormed the service in protest of one of its pastors leading a local field office for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP,” Bondi tweeted shortly before the arrests. Carter’s resolution clarifies that he respects Americans’ First Amendment right to “peaceful protest,” he notes that “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.”
Carter seems specifically amenable to charges being brought under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which the Biden administration had used to prosecute Americans who peacefully protested outside of abortion clinics.
“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,” Carter’s resolution notes. “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.”
“I want to see these insurrectionists in handcuffs,” Carter told the Reporter. “Storming a place of worship and intimidating Christians in defense of pedophiles, murderers, and rapists is inexcusable. Don Lemon and every raving lunatic who participated in this mob — including politicians like Tim Walz who radicalized them — must be held accountable for inciting violence and disrupting churchgoers’ right to practice their religion.”
One of the most important aspects of Carter’s resolution is that it “declares that targeting houses of worship for disruption or harassment constitutes an attack on religious liberty and the rule of law.”
In addition to praising Bondi and her colleagues for their “prompt investigation into the events surrounding this incident, including the conduct of all individuals involved,” Carter also singled out former CNN host Don Lemon for his participation in the what Carter called an insurrection; the resolution “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.”
