A Sunday morning service at Cities Church in St. Paul descended into disorder as anti-ICE demonstrators flooded the sanctuary, chanting “Justice for Renee Good” for over 23 minutes.
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon captured the unrest on livestream, highlighting tensions over a pastor’s reported ties to federal immigration enforcement.
The Alleged ICE Director Behind the Pulpit
David Easterwood serves as both a pastor at Cities Church and acting field office director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota, per federal records and the church website. Activists spotted his name in Department of Homeland Security court filings and in a pending American Civil Liberties Union class-action lawsuit alleging aggressive ICE tactics in the Twin Cities.
Easterwood appeared on C-SPAN in October 2025 alongside DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, identifying himself as a leader of Minnesota’s ICE operations. Whether he attended the disrupted service remains unconfirmed. Nekima Levy-Armstrong, an attorney and reverend heading the Racial Justice Network, organized the protest with activists from Black Lives Matter Minnesota and Black Lives Matter Twin Cities. She linked Easterwood’s roles after reviewing public records.
“Justice for Renee Good”—The Catalyst
Chants centered on Renee Good, a 37-year-old American citizen and mother of three, killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7, 2026. Ross fired into her vehicle’s windshield and driver’s side window at close range on a Minneapolis street, sparking widespread demonstrations. Her death fueled the church intrusion eleven days later, serving as the protest’s emotional core.
Lead Pastor Jonathan Parnell, mid-sermon, faced the intruders from the pulpit. “Shame on you! This is a house of God!” he shouted. When Levy-Armstrong questioned ICE’s presence in the church, Parnell avoided confirming or denying Easterwood’s role. Some congregants slipped out quietly; others spoke with protesters. Musicians played to drown out chants. Parnell later called the interruption shameful, emphasizing his duty to his church and family.
Federal Response Escalates
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division launched a probe hours later, eyeing violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, originally for clinic protection but applied here to worship disruption. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced FBI involvement on social media. Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed full federal force against attacks on law enforcement and Christians after speaking with Parnell.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated President Trump would not tolerate harassment in places of worship. This echoes a 2025 New Jersey synagogue case where DOJ sued protesters under the FACE Act during a rabbi’s memorial. Levy-Armstrong dismissed the federal probe as a distraction from ICE conduct. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison thanked Lemon for documenting the event.
Troops and Funding Threats Intensify Stakes
The Pentagon readied 1,500 troops for possible Minnesota deployment amid state-federal clashes over ICE enforcement, following weeks of protests after Good’s death. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey demanded ICE leave the city; Governor Tim Walz put the National Guard on standby. President Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from Minnesota starting February 1, 2026, over sanctuary policies obstructing immigration efforts. The cut would hit education, infrastructure, healthcare, and social services for 5.7 million residents.
The incident laid bare rifts in U.S. churches on immigration policy. Some Baptist leaders, including those at Bethlehem College and Seminary, where Parnell sits on the board, supported ICE. One professor prayed from the pulpit for God to thwart opponents of ICE. As FBI scrutiny targets identifiable protesters, military preparations hold, and the funding deadline nears, Minnesota braces for a rare federal-state confrontation. With a St. Paul church at its epicenter, the standoff tests the limits of protest rights, worship freedoms, and immigration authority.
Sources:
“Department of Justice investigating anti-ICE protest at St. Paul church” – FOX 9
“DOJ vows to press charges after activists disrupt church” – CNN
“Pentagon readies 1500 troops for potential Minnesota deployment” – Reuters
“President Trump cutting federal funding to Minnesota starting Feb. 1” – FOX 9
“Activists interrupt Sunday church service, say pastor works for ICE” – Star Tribune
“Reports, videos show how ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good” – CNN