On January 20, President Trump posted on Truth Social expressing his reaction after watching a video of a group of anti-ICE protesters storming a church in Minnesota. He remarked that their behavior seemed highly organized and must have been trained in a professional manner. Trump condemned these agitators and insurrectionists, calling for them to be either jailed or expelled for their disruptive actions.
The incident occurred on Sunday when dozens of individuals invaded a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, interrupting Pastor Jonathan Parnell’s sermon. They accused Pastor David Easterwood of having ties to ICE due to sharing a name with the acting director of the ICE office in St. Paul. The protesters chanted slogans like “ICE out” and demanded justice for Renee Good.
Witnesses from the church reported that as they tried to leave the premises, some protesters followed them into the parking lot, with some even blocking their vehicles in an attempt to impede their departure. Former CNN anchor Don Lemon followed the protesters into the church, recording the entire event on his phone and interviewing anti-ICE activists, the preaching pastor, and church members present.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi stated on social media that any attacks on law enforcement agencies and intimidation of Christians would be vigorously prosecuted. The Department of Justice, FBI, and DHS will launch investigations into the participants, according to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Blanche emphasized that the actions of the protesters violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, passed in 1994 to protect individuals’ ability to access religious and health care facilities without fear of violence or obstruction. He reiterated that disrupting religious activities or intimidating individuals was unacceptable and that the perpetrators would be swiftly apprehended.
The Department of Justice is also exploring whether Don Lemon’s actions during the incident are protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution. Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, asserted that Lemon was merely fulfilling his journalistic duties and had no direct involvement with the protest.
This church disturbance followed the Renee Good incident on January 7, where an ICE officer fatally shot Good after she allegedly rammed her car into the officer during a law enforcement encounter in Minneapolis. The Trump administration labeled Good as a domestic terrorist for using her vehicle as a deadly weapon against federal agents.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, strongly opposed the Trump administration’s stance on the anti-ICE movement, drawing criticism for his handling of fraud cases involving the local Somali immigrant community and his resistance to ICE enforcement activities in the state.
In his Truth Social post, Trump further criticized Governor Walz and Ilhan Omar, Somali-American congresswoman, accusing them of corruption and calling for investigations into their alleged wrongdoings. Trump urged action against these politicians without delay. Governor Walz had announced on January 5 that he would not seek re-election.
(Adapted from reporting by “The Hill”)