DOJ Opens Civil‑Rights Probe After Anti‑ICE Protest Disrupts St. Paul Church; State Officials Push Back
DOJ opened a federal civil‑rights probe after anti‑ICE protesters disrupted a St. Paul church service; state officials dispute the legal basis and journalists face scrutiny.
Overview
The DOJ opened a federal investigation after about 30 protesters disrupted a Jan. 18 service at Cities Church in St. Paul, citing possible FACE Act and KKK Act violations.
DOJ officials, including Harmeet Dhillon, vowed to pursue federal charges; prosecutors and FBI agents were dispatched and warned journalists such as Don Lemon they are 'on notice'.
Protesters said they targeted David Easterwood, listed as a Cities Church pastor and identified in ACLU filings as ICE St. Paul acting field director; DHS declined to confirm his identity.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison disputed the DOJ's use of the FACE Act, saying it protects reproductive‑health access, and questioned applying it to protesters who entered a church.
The disruption unfolded amid intensified anti‑ICE protests after Renee Good's Jan. 7 death; ICE surged into Minneapolis, a judge limited crowd‑control tactics, and 1,500 troops were put on standby.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story through law-and-order emphasis, foregrounding federal officials' language ('full force of federal law', 'desecrating a house of worship') and actions (investigations, troops on standby). Protester perspectives and community grievances appear but are placed later and presented as reactive, reducing their narrative primacy.
Sources (19)
FAQ
The FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act) of 1994 criminalizes intimidating or interfering with persons exercising First Amendment rights to religious freedom at places of worship or seeking reproductive health services. DOJ, via Harmeet Dhillon, is investigating the protest as a potential FACE Act violation for disrupting the church service.[1]
David Easterwood is listed as a pastor at Cities Church and identified in ACLU filings as the acting ICE St. Paul field director. About 30-40 anti-ICE protesters disrupted the Jan. 18 service targeting him amid heightened protests following Renee Good's death.[1]
Minnesota AG Keith Ellison disputed the DOJ's use of the FACE Act, arguing it protects reproductive-health access and questioning its application to church protesters. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey defended anti-ICE protesters and rejected federal claims of lawlessness.[1]
DOJ opened a civil-rights probe citing possible FACE Act and KKK Act violations, dispatched prosecutors and FBI agents, and warned journalists like Don Lemon they are 'on notice'. Officials including AG Pam Bondi and Harmeet Dhillon vowed to pursue federal charges.[1]
History
7 sources