Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon announced the investigation in an X post, saying officials are looking at potential violations of the FACE Act, which generally protects places of worship from protests.
Dhillon’s post included footage of the incident that shows multiple protesters assembled in Cities Church chanting “Justice for Renee Good,” the 37-year-old woman who was fatally shot by an ICE officer earlier this month. Dhillon said the protesters were “desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers.”
The pastor in question is David Easterwood, who did not appear to be present at the service. A man with the same name is an acting field office director for ICE in Minnesota, who appeared alongside Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem at a press conference last fall. The Washington Examiner could not confirm whether they are the same person.
The protest was also caught on video by former CNN anchor Don Lemon, who was covering anti-ICE demonstrations throughout the day in Minnesota for his YouTube channel. Lemon defended the protesters after many worshippers left the service, claiming it was protected by the First Amendment.
“This is what the First Amendment is about, the freedom to protest,” he said. “I’m sure people here don’t like it, but protests are not comfortable.”
Dhillon later hit at Lemon’s statement by suggesting he was part of the protest.
“A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service. You are on notice!” she posted on X.
Attorney General Pam Bondi also confirmed the investigation, saying “Any violation of federal law will be prosecuted.”
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the incident “despicable,” saying “President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship.”
Anti-ICE protests took place across Minnesota over the weekend as tension remain high after Good’s death. Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) mobilized the state National guard on Saturday, and the Pentagon has also reportedly ordered around 1,500 troops to prepare for deployment to the state.
