One man, William Kelly, has found a disturbing way to express his anti-ICE sentiments—by targeting families and congregants during their worship services. On Sunday in St. Paul, Minnesota, he was part of a group that disrupted a church service at Cities Church, hurling insults at those attending. This incident adds to his ongoing harassment at Christ Church D.C. in Washington, D.C., where he has previously confronted churchgoers. In videos shared online—many under his alias, “dawokefarmer”—he verbally assaults worshippers, labeling them as “f***ing Nazis” and other derogatory terms.
In a menacing confrontation, Kelly threatened Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, saying, “you’re going to learn how to do a pull up in prison.” His video post expresses anticipation for confronting Hegseth, demonstrating that these outbursts are not spontaneous; they’ve been planned. “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” he stated to podcaster Jesse Dollemore. His obsession with Hegseth highlights a troubling motivation behind his aggressiveness.
Kelly has also taken to crowdfunding to spread his cause, raising nearly $40,000 through GoFundMe. He uses this platform to solicit funds for what he describes as “scolding the gestapo for their bad decisions.” It’s a clear indication of his commitment to this disruptive agenda, with a growing follower count of 65,000 on TikTok serving as a testament to his influence among like-minded individuals.
Justin Overbaugh, Deputy Under Secretary of War for Intelligence and Security, echoed concerns about the hostility directed at congregants. He pointed out that while law enforcement is present, they do little to prevent the open violation of laws protecting the worshippers. The chaotic scenes have transformed the experience of attending church into a battleground, where families with young children are met with “profanity-laden harassment” as they enter and exit the premises. Joe Rigney, a founding pastor at Cities Church, noted a serious incident where one individual was hospitalized after an aggressive protester used a bullhorn too close to his ear.
These incidents have not gone unnoticed at the federal level. Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed ongoing communications with her office, focusing on the protests that disrupt the peace of worship services. “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,” Bondi expressed on X. Her firm stance indicates a potential response to the growing intimidation faced by worshippers.
In another troubling display, Kelly claimed on social media that he was “kidnapped by ICE for practicing my 1st amendment rights,” further portraying himself as a victim in this escalating narrative. This claim not only highlights a skewed perception of events but also a defiance toward law enforcement.
The situation poses significant questions about the boundaries of protest and the rights of individuals to practice their faith without fear of intimidation. As tensions rise, the safety of congregants at places of worship remains at stake, and the consequences of these aggressive confrontations are yet to be fully addressed by officials.
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