Anti-ICE protesters stormed a Minnesota church during Sunday worship, accusing a pastor of ties to federal immigration enforcement and sparking a confrontation captured on video by former CNN host Don Lemon.

The disruption occurred on Sunday, Jan. 18, at Cities Church in St. Paul, where members of the Racial Justice Network interrupted the service with chants and accusations against pastor David Eastwood. Protesters claimed Eastwood serves as the acting field office director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota, though it remains unclear if he is the same individual listed in federal employment records.

 

Don’t let these morons get what they want. pic.twitter.com/aZ6SUJMRl6

— Steve Gruber (@stevegrubershow) January 18, 2026

Activists chanted slogans including “ICE out of Minnesota,” “hands up, don’t shoot,” and “justice for Renee Good,” referencing the Jan. 7 death of anti-ICE activist Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in what federal officials described as self-defense during a protest.

Nekima Levy-Armstrong, a reverend, lawyer and activist leading the group, addressed the congregation directly. “This cannot be a house of God while harboring someone directing ICE agents to wreak havoc on our community,” she said during a livestream with Lemon. “I am a reverend on top of being a lawyer and an activist, so I come here in the power of the almighty God.”

Lemon, who embedded with the protesters and broadcast the event live, engaged with church leaders amid the chaos. He defended the action by citing constitutional protections. 

“Listen, there’s a constitution, the First Amendment to freedom of speech and freedom to assemble and protest,” Lemon told lead pastor Jonathan Parnell.

Parnell, who was presiding over the service in Eastwood’s absence, condemned the interruption. “This is unacceptable. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship,” he told Lemon. Parnell asked non-worshippers to leave, adding, “No one is willing to talk. I have to take care of my church and my family.”

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, announced an investigation into potential violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which protects places of worship and reproductive health facilities from interference.

“A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest,” Dhillon posted on X. “It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws.” She directed her message at Lemon, stating, “Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service. You are on notice.”

The Department of Homeland Security also weighed in, reposting video of the event and accusing local leaders like Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of inciting unrest.

Lemon later distanced himself in a follow-up video, blaming the protest’s organizer and describing his role as “an act of journalism.” 

“Why don’t you talk to the actual person who is in charge of the organization and whose idea it was to have the protests at the church before you start blaming me for stuff,” he said. 

Mayor Frey, in a recent “60 Minutes” interview, defended community responses to ICE actions. “People in Minneapolis are speaking up. They’re speaking up peacefully. They’re standing up for their neighbors,” he said. Frey accused ICE of “terrorizing people simply because they’re Latino or Somali.”

No arrests were reported immediately following the church disruption, but the DOJ probe could lead to charges under federal law. Cities Church did not respond to requests for comment, and Eastwood’s connection to ICE remains unverified by DHS.