Overview:
This article examines a series of recent protests and confrontations in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area that have unfolded amid heightened federal immigration enforcement and growing social tension. It explores the disruption of a church service, an alleged assault involving an independent journalist, and public outrage following the death of Renee Good, placing these events within the city’s broader historical, political, and religious context. Through statements from activists, church leaders, and public officials, the report highlights the competing perspectives shaping an ongoing debate over protest tactics, public safety, and the role of faith institutions in a deeply divided moment.
MINNEAPOLIS — “The lives of nearly everyone I know have been disrupted,” wrote journalist and editor Meg Anderson in a January 27 column for WYPR. The church protest in the Minneapolis –St. Paul area occurred during a period of heightened federal law enforcement activity and broader social tension across the Twin Cities. Anderson’s words summed up the sentiment of a city struggling with increased federal law enforcement presence, protest, and social tension. Residents have tried to go about their business, as some businesses have temporarily shut down. Protesters called for federal immigration agents to leave the city, while others said that enforcement was long overdue. The cultural, political, and moral divide has never felt more pronounced.
Independent journalist Nick Sortor, known for his conservative commentary, shared live video from parts of the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area during the unrest. However, Sortor alleged that he was involved in a physical confrontation during which he was pulled to the ground and lost camera equipment. A circulating online video appears to show a physical confrontation involving Sortor, though the footage does not clearly establish how the encounter began or who initiated it. As of publication, no arrests or charges related to the incident had been announced. People have viewed this incident, as well as others from this period, from different angles depending on their political views. However, police have not reached an official conclusion regarding the incident.
Public Conflict, Deeper Questions
Although the events are not directly connected, these incidents occurred during the same general period as public outrage over Renee Good’s death and the disruption of a Twin Cities church service. But beneath the public debate and the videos, there is a question that goes to the heart of the matter: What is ultimately at stake for communities of faith, and how should churches respond when politics invades the sanctuary?
A City Shaped by Change
Minneapolis has been a city of migration and transformation for centuries. It was acquired by the United States as a frontier settlement in 1803, as a result of the Louisiana Purchase. It developed as an industrial center on the Upper Mississippi River. There was a wave of immigration to the area in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with Scandinavians, Russians, and Jews coming to the area in great numbers. According to the Minnesota Historical Society, these communities often became foundations for later family migration.
In recent decades, Minnesota has emerged as home to the largest population of Somalis in the United States. The majority of the Somali ethnicity came to the US in the early 1990s as refugees from their home country, which experienced a period of civil war. According to data collected by the American Community Survey, approximately 47,000 Minnesotans have Somali ancestry. The election of Rep. Ilhan Omar to Congress in 2018 increased this ethnic group’s political power in the country.
On January 27, Omar reported that someone sprayed her with an unknown substance during a town hall meeting in North Minneapolis. Her office said Omar was not harmed and chose to continue the meeting. They said that Omar would not let intimidation get in the way of public engagement.
The church protest in Minneapolis did not occur in isolation but against a backdrop of strained relations between law enforcement and community activists.
Protest, Policing, and the Church
Since the death of George Floyd in 2020, relations between law enforcement and community activists in Minneapolis have remained tense. Federal scrutiny of Minnesota’s nonprofit sector intensified after prosecutors announced a guilty plea in the Feeding Our Future case, one of the largest pandemic fraud schemes in U.S. history. Recent federal investigations involving a limited number of individuals added to that tension, though community leaders and public officials have stressed that the vast majority of Somali-led nonprofits and Somali American residents are not implicated. Federal scrutiny intensified following developments in the Feeding Our Future case, in which court records show judges ordered multiple forfeitures tied to pandemic-related fraud, including multiple forfeiture orders, among them a $5.2 million judgment against one defendant. Federal prosecutors say several convictions have already been secured, with cases still pending.
Activists criticized federal authorities for what they described as aggressive and disruptive enforcement actions. “They’re arresting U.S. citizens and doing all this illegal stuff,” said Chauntyll Allen of Black Lives Matter Twin Cities, describing what she said was anger shared by many demonstrators.
Federal agencies have disputed claims of unlawful conduct.
Credit: ABC 7 Chicago via YouTube
The church protest in Minneapolis began when a group of demonstrators entered Cities Church in St. Paul during a Sunday service in mid-January. Protesters chanted slogans about immigration enforcement and Renee Good’s death while worshipers stood silently. They also attempted to speak to the worshipers as Pastor Jonathan Parnell tried to continue the service.
The interruption appeared to upset several families, who then took their children outside. Several worshipers described the incident as extremely distressing. Parnell described the incident as completely unacceptable, but the protesters believed their action was a moral imperative in reaction to an unjust situation.
Why Cities Church Became a Target
Statement posted by Cities Church on its official Facebook page following the disruption of a Sunday worship service.
The church protest in Minneapolis targeted Cities Church after demonstrators said a senior ICE official held a leadership role in the congregation. According to multiple media reports, individuals online shared what they described as Easterwood’s personal information. The Department of Homeland Security has warned that doxing law enforcement officers can place officers and their families in danger.
Although no one suffered physical injuries, the disruption traumatized leaders of the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention. The leaders noted that churches should be places of peace, even in the face of disagreement on politics.
Dr. Joe Rigney, an author and theologian involved in the creation of Cities Church, noted that the sermon was on Jesus’ command to love one another. During his public address, Rigney noted that there was a need to remain steadfast while decrying the rising disorder in American cities.
Others sharply disagreed. Civil-rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong called it “unconscionable and unacceptable” for an ICE official to hold a church leadership role while overseeing enforcement actions.
Church leaders later reaffirmed their mission to worship Jesus, love one another, and serve the Twin Cities. Parnell expressed the same sentiments in his blog post, calling on his congregation to remain loyal and devoted despite this disruption. Officials also announced that they would pursue legal action as a solution.
A Nation Watching
Reactions to the protest extend beyond the state of Minnesota. Some religious and political figures condemned the protest, while others came to its defense.
During the broader period of protests, additional confrontations occurred in separate incidents, including a fatal shooting that authorities said remains under investigation. There are many Americans across the spectrum who want order, safety, and normalcy.
The issue that these events bring up, however, is still very much in question. For instance, do churches remain immune from political strife, or do protesters now view them as legitimate sites of protest? What role should faith communities play in government-related controversies? What does justice look like in a deeply divided society?
The church protest in Minneapolis has become a microcosm of a much larger national struggle that pits faith, law, protest, and power against each other in uncomfortable ways. While the country debates enforcement, accountability, and morality, the future is very much in question. The way that Americans answer these questions may very well decide the future of Minneapolis and the very fabric of society itself.
Sources:
Commentary and Opinion
Religious and Church-Related Reporting
- Church Leaders — “’[They] Serve Their Neighbors,’ Says ‘The Sin of Empathy’ Author and Cities Church Cofounder Joe Rigney”
- ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV) — “Protesters disrupt church service where ICE official is a member”
- Cities Church (St. Paul, Minnesota) — Statement posted on the church’s official Facebook page following the January service disruption
Government Statements and Official Records
- United States Department of Homeland Security — “DHS Condemns Dangerous Doxxing and Escalating Threats Against Federal Law Enforcement Officers”
- Internal Revenue Service — “Minneapolis woman pleads guilty in $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme”
National and Regional Media Coverage
- Fox News — “Minnesota school board member Chauntyll Allen ripped by state lawmaker after anti-ICE church invasion arrest”
- KOMO News — “Federal judge orders forfeiture of $5.2 million from Feeding Our Future fraud ringleader”
- The Guardian — “Congresswoman Ilhan Omar sprayed with unknown substance at Minneapolis town hall”
- ABC News via ABC (Australia) — “Thousands in US protest against ICE after fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good”
- WWMT (reported nationally) — “Minneapolis protester allegedly robs conservative influencer Nick Sortor”
- WYPR — “Reporter’s Notebook: Living and reporting from Minneapolis in crisis”
Historical and Background Context
Editor’s Disclaimer:
This article reports on a series of ongoing events involving protests, law enforcement activity, and religious institutions in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area. Information contained herein is based on publicly available reporting, official statements, court records, and direct quotations from named sources at the time of publication. Some incidents referenced remain under investigation, and accounts from those involved may differ.
Presence News does not assert guilt, criminal liability, intent, or motive for any individual or organization beyond what has been formally alleged or established by authorities. Statements reflecting opinions, characterizations, or interpretations are attributed to their respective speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Presence News.
The inclusion of background context, images, or embedded multimedia is intended solely to inform readers and provide perspective and should not be construed as endorsement, validation, or verification of any disputed claims. Presence News reserves the right to update this article as additional verified information becomes available.
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