The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Sunday that it is investigating a group of protesters in Minnesota who disrupted services at a church where a local official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is believed to hold a pastoral role.
During a service at Cities Church in St. Paul, protesters, organized by Black Lives Matter Minnesota, disrupted the event with chants of ICE out and Justice for Renee Good. Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was recently killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, which has raised tensions surrounding federal immigration practices and violence within the community.
The protesters have targeted David Easterwood, claimed to be the pastor of the church and the acting director of the ICE St. Paul field office. Allegations against him include overseeing violent tactics and unlawful detentions by ICE agents during increased enforcement activities.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stated that the protest was a desecration of a house of worship, which she believes is protected from such actions by federal law.
Community reaction has been mixed, with some local activists expressing outrage at Easterwood’s dual role and the implications it holds for the congregation and broader community. Civil rights leader Nekima Levy Armstrong described the situation as unfathomable, emphasizing the disconnect between the protest and the actual issues stemming from ICE's actions in the community.
The church did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Easterwood's presence during the protests or the church's stance on the ongoing enforcement practices led by ICE.
The DOJ’s investigation into the protesters is being criticized as a diversion from issues involving federal law enforcement and community treatment. Some activists argue that the real focus should be on the federal immigration policies and their local impacts rather than on the response from community members.
