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Omaha Steve

(108,602 posts) Sun Jan 18, 2026, 11:44 PM Jan 18

DOJ vows to press charges after activists disrupt church where Minnesota ICE official is a pastor [View all]

Source: AP

By JACK BROOK
Updated 9:46 PM CST, January 18, 2026

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice said Sunday 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 apparently serves as a pastor.

A livestreamed video posted on the Facebook page of Black Lives Matter Minnesota, one of the protest’s organizers, shows a group of people interrupting services at the Cities Church in St. Paul by chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good.” The 37-year-old mother of three was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis earlier this month amid a surge in federal immigration enforcement activities.

The protesters allege that one of the church’s pastors — David Easterwood — also leads the local ICE field office overseeing the operations that have involved violent tactics and illegal arrests.

U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said her agency is investigating federal civil rights violations “by these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-ice-doj-church-protest-st-paul-46dac5c5595ec78e3360ec927eef92d2

53 replies

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DOJ vows to press charges after activists disrupt church where Minnesota ICE official is a pastor [View all] Omaha Steve Jan 18 OP

What would Jesus do? Srkdqltr Jan 18 #1

Jesus would cast David Easterwood out of the temple. nt SunSeeker Jan 19 #4

With a whip and overturning of tables in great anger. ... marble falls Jan 20 #45

that will fix this too...right? ret5hd Jan 18 #2

Seems to me ICE is the one "desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers." SunSeeker Jan 19 #3

Yet ICE goons can and do invade churches. Ocelot II Jan 19 #5

Now I've heard everything. ICE employee, a pastor? Joinfortmill Jan 19 #6

Many of these ICE thugs are certain they are christians. They haven't a clue what travelingthrulife Jan 19 #16

Imagine what his sermons must be like. 3Hotdogs Jan 19 #7

Given her record, that would be great. Grokenstein Jan 19 #8

If he's teaching Trumpism for Christianity, he's an Apostate Heretic. That is ALL. BurnDoubt Jan 19 #9

Botox Barbie doesn't want their identities revealed Puppyjive Jan 19 #10

I'm not surprised. I'm sure pastors very often push right wing crap in their sermons. C Moon Jan 19 #11

And how. marble falls Jan 20 #43

This regime 'investigating civil rights violations'. OldBaldy1701E Jan 19 #12

The protesters committed trespassing, at most. Nobody's civil rights were violated. SunSeeker Jan 19 #13

I'm not event sure about tresspassing charges, unless there was a sign that said NO TRESPASSING. bluestarone Jan 20 #50

They won't even perform a show trial for the ICE thug who murdered Renee in cold blood. travelingthrulife Jan 19 #17

Fascist in a Frock purr-rat beauty Jan 19 #14

Oh well, just another case they'll lose in court. nt MarineCombatEngineer Jan 19 #15

Yes. But their goal is chaos and disrupting people's lives. travelingthrulife Jan 19 #18

Oh, believe me, I get that, MarineCombatEngineer Jan 19 #20

From your lips to God's ears! travelingthrulife Jan 20 #47

They will be charged with violating 18 U.S.C. § 248 Rafielyo Jan 19 #22

No they won't Prairie Gates Jan 19 #24

What will the charges be, you think? Rafielyo Jan 19 #26

There won't be any charges Prairie Gates Jan 19 #27

Being charged & being convicted are 2 different things. nt TBF Jan 19 #25

Conviction will depend on whether the service was interrupted Rafielyo Jan 19 #28

Are you an attorney? nt TBF Jan 19 #30

No. But like you, I can make a prediction Rafielyo Jan 19 #31

I have no idea who is an attorney and who is not in this thread - TBF Jan 19 #32

So that would apply to ICE walking into places of worshop, too??? marble falls Jan 20 #42

So, my questions. Were the members aware of this? Did the request the pastor resign? bluestarone Jan 19 #19

This church is a conservative evangelical church apparently affiliated with the Southern Baptists. Ocelot II Jan 19 #21

They can trespass them Prairie Gates Jan 19 #23

Here's what 18 U.S.C. § 248 says Rafielyo Jan 19 #33

Yeah, you posted it above too Prairie Gates Jan 19 #34

AGREE!! bluestarone Jan 20 #51

Here's the law surfered Jan 19 #38

(1) is about reproductive rights and (2) is about religious practice Rafielyo Jan 19 #39

Welcome to DU! GP6971 Jan 19 #40

Let's do a thought experiment Prairie Gates Jan 20 #41

I don't think that law means what you think it does. Peaceful demonstration would't break that law, though it may ... marble falls Jan 20 #44

They can't be charged with trespassing... Brother Buzz Jan 19 #36

Correct Prairie Gates Jan 19 #37

More right wing bullshit. They get spanked and then it's Klarkashton Jan 19 #29

So, what I've read so far (NYTimes) is that the protesters were chanting. TBF Jan 19 #35

Payback Is A B*tch Deep State Witch Jan 20 #46

Much respect to our witches, and warlocks... electric_blue68 Jan 20 #48

Maaaybe they should have done it right as the service finished... electric_blue68 Jan 20 #49

Aw 😢 poor widdle davie, thinks he's up against goliath. He's nothing but a delusion peddler. Clouds Passing Jan 20 #52

Doubtful that a grand jury would indict them here. sboatcar Jan 20 #53