Morning service, unexpected intermission
What was supposed to be a normal Sunday at Cities Church in St. Paul turned into a charged protest. A group of demonstrators livestreamed their interruption, chanting slogans demanding ICE be kicked out and calling for justice for Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman who was fatally shot earlier this month during an encounter involving federal immigration agents.
Who’s who in the pews and the field office
The protesters say one of the church’s pastors, identified as David Easterwood, also has a role in the local ICE office that has been part of recent high-profile enforcement activity. That overlap — pastor by day, federal official by role — is the fuel for much of the outrage. The church did not respond to requests for comment, and it wasn’t clear whether Easterwood was present during the disruption livestreamed by the demonstrators.
What law enforcement and DOJ are saying
The Justice Department announced it is looking into whether federal laws were broken when the worship service was interrupted, calling houses of worship a protected space. Officials warned that interrupting religious services could lead to civil- or criminal-level consequences. A state-level figure echoed the sentiment and said she’s been coordinating with the Justice Department about potential violations.
From the protest organizers
Local activists involved in the demonstration pushed back hard against the investigation, saying the spotlight should instead be on the federal agents’ tactics in the Twin Cities. One organizer and ordained reverend pointed out that having someone who helps oversee ICE operations also serving as a church leader is morally unsettling, arguing that the community’s grief and outrage about aggressive enforcement should not be sidelined.
What the ICE side says and a court filing
ICE has described the protesters as targeting federal personnel and said agents have been hunted at hotels and churches. In a recent court filing, the official linked to the local field office defended the use of crowd-control tools, saying they were needed because agents faced increased threats and aggressive crowds. He denied that officers were intentionally aiming crowd-control devices at peaceful demonstrators.
Local leaders react
Some community leaders called the DOJ action misguided and argued that disrupting services was a response to what they called dangerous and harmful federal conduct. Others framed the incident as a larger debate about accountability, faith, and how a community should respond when someone in a position of spiritual leadership is tied to controversial government actions.
Where things stand
The Justice Department’s inquiry is ongoing. For now, the episode has left the church, protesters and federal authorities sparring over where the line should be between protected worship, protest tactics and law enforcement accountability — which, as you might guess, makes for a very awkward couple of Sundays in St. Paul.
