What is the FACE Act? Federal charges for Minnesota church protest could come by Sunday

The Justice Department is considering federal charges tied to a disruptive protest that overtook a Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, with civil rights officials signaling arrests could come as soon as this weekend. Prosecutors are eyeing a law more commonly used in cases involving abortion clinics as they weigh how to handle the targeting of a Christian house of worship.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said Monday that the DOJ will pursue charges stemming from the incident, which was livestreamed and featured activists protesting against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis by chanting and shouting inside the sanctuary as congregants attempted to continue worship.

Cities Church is seen in St. Paul, Minnesota, where activists shut down a