Protesters Disrupt St. Paul Church Service Over ICE Ties

Protesters disrupted a Sunday morning worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, chanting slogans against Immigration and Customs Enforcement and forcing the proceedings to end early, amid heightened tensions over federal immigration operations in the state.

The incident occurred during a service led by Pastor Jonathan Parnell, with about three dozen demonstrators entering the sanctuary, some approaching the pulpit while others shouted phrases including "ICE out" and references to Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman fatally shot by an ICE agent during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 7. The group targeted the church because one of its pastors, David Easterwood, serves as acting director of ICE's field office for enforcement and removal operations in St. Paul. It was unclear if Easterwood was present at the time. Video footage captured by attendees and protesters showed the group confronting worshippers, including youth and children, leading to insults and accusations that prompted families to leave. The service concluded after roughly 20 minutes of disruption.

Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights lawyer, activist, and ordained reverend who organized...