The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is launching a civil rights investigation into a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, after demonstrators interrupted a Sunday service. The protest targeted David Easterwood, listed as a pastor at the church and identified in court records as the acting director of the local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office. Activists from Black Lives Matter Minnesota and the Racial Justice Network organized the protest, chanting “ICE out” and demanding “Justice for Renee Good,” a woman fatally shot by an ICE agent earlier this month.
Federal Officials Condemn Protest at Place of Worship
DOJ Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon condemned the protest, accusing demonstrators of violating federal laws protecting religious spaces. “A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest,” Dhillon stated online. Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed this stance, pledging to prosecute any violations of federal law. ICE also responded harshly, claiming protesters were targeting churches and accusing them of “hunting for federal law enforcement.”
Community Leaders Reject Federal Narrative
Activists rejected the DOJ’s investigation, arguing it distracts from what they call violent and illegal ICE operations in Minnesota. Nekima Levy Armstrong, a protester and ordained reverend, called the federal response “a sham.” She emphasized the moral contradiction of a pastor overseeing ICE operations responsible for what she described as “barbaric” tactics. Monique Cullars-Doty of Black Lives Matter Minnesota questioned how a church leader could orchestrate immigration raids.
Church Remains Silent Amid Growing Scrutiny
Cities Church has not responded to media requests, and it is unclear if Easterwood attended the service disrupted by protesters. Although he did not appear on the livestream, his dual role as pastor and ICE official continues to fuel controversy. A January 5 court filing shows Easterwood defended ICE’s use of chemical agents and aggressive crowd control methods in Minnesota, asserting they were necessary to counter escalating threats.
Tensions Rise Between ICE Actions and Public Outrage
As federal immigration enforcement intensifies, backlash from local activists has grown. Protesters argue that the presence of ICE leadership within a religious institution erodes public trust and deepens community trauma. Meanwhile, federal agencies maintain that their agents face increased danger and that churches should not become protest venues.
Source:
DOJ vows to press charges after activists disrupt church where Minnesota ICE official is a pastor
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
About Post Author
