ICE Pastor, Minnesota Protests, DOJ Investigation
- department of Justice is investigating a group of protesters in Minnesota for disrupting services at Cities Church in St.
- A livestreamed video posted by Black Lives Matter Minnesota, one of the protest organizers, shows demonstrators chanting "ICE out" and "Justice for Renee Good" during church services.
- Protesters allege that David Easterwood, a pastor at Cities Church, also leads the local ICE field office responsible for operations involving what thay claim are violent tactics and...
Justice department Investigates protests at Minnesota Church
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The U.S. department of Justice is investigating a group of protesters in Minnesota for disrupting services at Cities Church in St. Paul on January 14, 2024, where a local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official serves as pastor.
Protest Details
A livestreamed video posted by Black Lives Matter Minnesota, one of the protest organizers, shows demonstrators chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good” during church services. Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis earlier in January 2024, during increased federal immigration enforcement.
Allegations Against Church Pastor
Protesters allege that David Easterwood, a pastor at Cities Church, also leads the local ICE field office responsible for operations involving what thay claim are violent tactics and illegal arrests. Specifically, they reference a video appearing to show a federal border patrol agent kneeing a man in the face and the arrest of Garrison Gibson, where a judge ordered his release.
Department of Justice Response
“The Department of Justice is investigating potential federal civil rights violations by these people desecrating a church service,”
Harmeet Dhillon, assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, January 14, 2024
The investigation focuses on potential violations of federal civil rights laws.
Associated Press: 37-year-old mother of three fatally shot by an ICE agent
Associated press Video: Federal border patrol agent kneeing a man in the face