SAINT PAUL, MN – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has vowed to “come down hard” on anti-ICE protesters who disrupted a church service on Sunday (Jan. 18). Attorney General Pam Bondi responded to the protest, which was recorded and posted online, with an X social media post.
“I just spoke to the Pastor in Minnesota whose church was targeted,” Bondi shared. “Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law.”
Nekima Levy Armstrong organized the protest that disrupted service at Cities Church for 25 minutes this past Sunday. The organizer, known for coordinating protests meant to disrupt “business as usual,” targeted the church after learning that one of the pastors, David Easterwood, is reportedly a high-ranking ICE official in the Minnesota region.
“I don’t understand how, as a pastor, he thinks that that’s acceptable,” Levy Armstrong said. “At the core, Christianity, if you’re genuine about it, is the call to love thy neighbor as you love yourself,” the activist continued.
“If you compare anyone’s actions and behaviors against that scripture, that will tell you who is on the right side of history and who is on the wrong side of history.”
The actions of anti-ICE protesters received mixed reviews. Some praised the activists for interrupting the service. Others rebuked Nekima Levy Armstrong and her supporters for impeding the rights of congregants to worship freely.
“No cause — political or otherwise — justifies the desecration of a sacred space or the intimidation and trauma inflicted on families gathered peacefully in the house of God,” Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, said.
“Democrats stormed a Christian Church in Minneapolis to terrorize the Pastor and his congregation,” Dr. Linda Lee Tarver, an election integrity expert, shared online. “This will NOT go unpunished,” she declared. “Children were petrified and confused.”
Don Lemon, an independent journalist, was contacted by Nekima Levy Armstrong to bring national attention to the protest. He said on camera that he was not a part of the disruption but was, rather, “reporting” what was happening.
Cities Church Lead Pastor Jonathan Parnell was speaking when protesters entered the sanctuary on Sunday. He was initially mistaken for David Easterwood by Don Lemon, who spoke with him during the disruption, and others. It was later revealed that Parnell has no ties to ICE, and David Easterwood was not present during the demonstration.