Protests Disrupt St. Paul Church Service
On Sunday, a group of anti-ICE protesters interrupted a church service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. They claimed that one of the pastors was affiliated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Videos shared online show demonstrators chanting “Justice for Renee Good” inside the church as the service began. This act has raised alarm among law enforcement and community leaders about the targeting of places of worship as protests against ICE escalate in the Twin Cities.
One video captures protesters in the middle of the sanctuary while the pastor was speaking. The person who filmed the scene described the situation as like a “secret mission,” claiming they had just found out about the pastor’s supposed connections to ICE.
Cities Church has several pastors, including one named David Easterwood, which is the same name as the acting director of ICE’s St. Paul office. Fox News Digital attempted to verify if the two individuals are indeed the same.
The unrest followed a tense period in Minneapolis, particularly after the ICE-related shooting death of Renee Nicole Good. This has led to heightened tensions, which some believe are being fueled by the Trump administration.
The Department of Homeland Security criticized officials like Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly inciting the unrest. In a statement, they expressed determination, saying, “ICE is not going anywhere.”
As protests continue and turn violent, the Justice Department has initiated an investigation into the disruptions at the church to assess potential violations of civil rights laws. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon indicated that the Civil Rights Division is looking into whether the demonstrations infringed upon the federal FACE Act, which protects houses of worship.
Mayor Frey pushed back against the characterization of the protests as dangerous. During an appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation, he argued that residents feel more targeted than protected by the influx of federal agents. “This is not a safety issue,” Frey noted, emphasizing that people are peacefully advocating for their neighbors rather than merely resisting authority.
