Left: Emily Heather Phillips mugshot; Right: Protesters outside Cities Church on Easter Sunday in a photo posted to the “50501 movement” Facebook group

A serial anti-ICE agitator was arrested outside Cities Church in St. Paul on Easter Sunday after police issued orders to cease disturbing the peace to a group they indicated was causing a disruption during a religious service, according to a statement later issued by the St. Paul Police Department (SPPD).

Emily Heather Phillips, 33, of Stevens Point, Wis., was booked into custody Sunday and cited through the St. Paul City Attorney’s office with four misdemeanor counts, including disorderly conduct, interrupting a religious observance, knowingly participating in a noisy assembly, and continuing to disturb the peace.

However, at a 9 a.m. arraignment hearing on Monday in Ramsey County District Court, Judge Maria Mitchell, a 2022 Gov. Tim Walz appointee, dismissed all charges against Phillips, citing “no probable cause,” according to a newly filed court document. Court records also show that Phillips had retained private attorney Trisha Pohland. Jail records show Phillips has been released from custody.

The church, on the 1500 block of Summit Avenue, was the site of an anti-ICE ambush demonstration in January when protesters, led by Nekima Levy Armstrong and accompanied by media personality Don Lemon, infiltrated the church and disrupted a service on the belief that one of the pastors worked for ICE.

The Sunday statement by SPPD said that officers had been working under contracted overtime at the church at 8:35 a.m. when a group of protesters were outside the church during Easter services.

Police said the protesters were using a blow-horn and yelling loudly, disrupting the church services.

Protesters were given numerous police announcements to stop the disruption or they would be cited or possibly arrested.

While most of the group complied with the police orders, one adult female did not comply and was arrested, police said.

Alpha News reported last week about the continuing anti-ICE protests outside Cities Church, during which parishioners claim they’re being “hounded” and “harassed,” and are encountering blocked sidewalks and having pictures of their faces and license plates taken by protesters.

“I just want the freedom to worship without [fear] and not be hounded or harassed,” one churchgoer told Crime Watch Minneapolis.

The protests have been taking place during Sunday services for weeks following the arrests and federal charges against 39 people who allegedly stormed the church in January, including Armstrong and Lemon, as well as St. Paul school board member Chauntyll Allen and several other activists.

Protesters appear to be organizing against the church within extremist “50501” social media groups, where posts indicate there are weekly protests planned at the church.

Phillips, who goes by redw.itch333 on Instagram, filmed herself last week at an airport berating ICE officers who had been placed at some airports to help in the wake of TSA agents quitting and calling out sick due to not getting paid during the congressional standoff to fund the Department of Homeland Security. In the video, Phillips could be heard telling one officer who appeared to be Hispanic that he was a “a f–ing race traitor.”

Phillips’ Instagram and Facebook pages are filled with anti-ICE and “No Kings” protest images and messaging.

This article was updated to reflect the fact that charges were dismissed against Phillips. 

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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.

 


Crime Watch MN

Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.





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