Protesters Burst Into St. Paul Church, Target Pastor Over Alleged ICE Role
Protesters disrupted a Sunday worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota to challenge what they claim is a pastor’s role with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — a confrontation caught on video and shared widely online. Activists marched into the sanctuary mid-service chanting “ICE out!” and “Justice for Renee Good!” according to livestreams and local reporting.
The interruption turned a routine service into a tense standoff between demonstrators and worshippers as activists accused church leadership of harboring an ICE official and a pastor who they say oversees enforcement actions in the Twin Cities. The protest reflects growing local frustration around federal immigration enforcement after the recent shooting of Renée Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
Video of the event shows a group of activists shouting and blowing whistles in the pews while some congregants quietly walked out. Lead pastor Jonathan Parnell remained at the pulpit and at times pointed at protesters before stepping down to engage some participants after chants subsided.
One organizer told the crowd the church should “repent” and remove the alleged ICE affiliate from its leadership, raising questions about the intersection between religious service and political authority.
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“It’s not right to worship here while enforcing policies that tear families apart,” said an activist during the disruption, according to live remarks.
Why this matters is unsettled: social posts claim a pastor named David Easterwood serves both at Cities Church and as the St. Paul ICE Field Office Director, but independent verification from credible news outlets has not confirmed that these are the same person.
Law enforcement sources are scrutinizing whether protesters violated federal laws against obstructing worship services. Local immigration advocacy groups say the disruption will intensify scrutiny on faith communities seen as aligned with enforcement priorities. Further statements from the church leadership and ICE are expected. The situation is ongoing.
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