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DOJ Arrests 21-Year-Old Student Tied To Church Protest Coverage

February 3, 2026

Temple University student Jerome Deangelo Richardson and Ian Davis Austin were arrested by federal authorities in connection with a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where demonstrators confronted Pastor David Easterwood about his dual role as both a religious leader and interim ICE field director. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrests, emphasizing prosecution of those who disrupt religious services, with Richardson facing conspiracy against rights charges and violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. The 21-year-old student turned himself in at a Philadelphia location and had previously assisted journalist Don Lemon with coverage of immigration enforcement protests in Minneapolis.

Who is affected

  • Jerome Deangelo Richardson (21-year-old Temple University student activist)
  • Ian Davis Austin
  • Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Pastor David Easterwood
  • Multiple journalists and organizers facing federal cases related to the same incident
  • Don Lemon (journalist who Richardson assisted)
  • Protesters involved in the church demonstration

What action is being taken

  • Federal agents have arrested Jerome Deangelo Richardson and Ian Davis Austin
  • The U.S. government is prosecuting the arrested individuals with federal charges including conspiracy against rights and FACE Act violations
  • A GoFundMe campaign is raising money for Richardson's legal defense (having raised over $11,000)

Why it matters

  • This case represents a significant federal response to protests involving immigration enforcement, particularly because it applies criminal charges traditionally used for other contexts (like the FACE Act for clinic access) to religious service disruptions. The arrests highlight tensions between activism, religious institutions, and government immigration policy, especially when religious leaders hold positions within enforcement agencies. The incident raises questions about protest rights, religious freedom, and the extent of federal authority in prosecuting demonstrators who challenge the intersection of faith leadership and immigration enforcement roles.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle

DOJ Arrests 21-Year-Old Student Tied To Church Protest Coverage