Attendees of Cities Church in St. Paul continue to be harassed by anti-ICE protesters every Sunday when they attend worship services, a churchgoer recently told Crime Watch Minneapolis.
Cities Church was invaded by an anti-ICE mob on Jan. 18 when individuals halted the service and encircled churchgoers and pastors, screaming chants and recording.
The mob, led by activist Nekima Levy Armstrong and St. Paul school board member Chauntyll Allen, entered the sanctuary after the sermon began and interrupted lead pastor Jonathan Parnell’s prayer with shouts of “Justice for Renee Good” and “ICE out.” Video footage showed agitators screaming in the faces of women and children, and harassing families as they tried to leave.
Court documents allege that the agitators blocked stairways to the child care area, preventing parents from reaching their children amid the chaos.
The disruption stemmed from claims that Cities Church pastor David Easterwood holds a leadership role with ICE. The mob accused the church of “harboring” an ICE agent following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer earlier in January.
Crime Watch Minneapolis posted to X saying that protesters have been present outside the church building every Sunday since the initial incident. “They block the sidewalk and are cussing us out as we walk into church,” a churchgoer said.
We've been informed by a churchgoer at Cities Church in St. Paul (that was previously stormed by agitators) that the church and parishioners are still being harassed by 50501 anti-ICE agitators every Sunday during services at 8:30 and 10:30. pic.twitter.com/hVNepELz2y
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) March 27, 2026
A March 22 post to the 50501 Facebook group shows protesters standing outside the church holding signs. “Bring the heat, melt the ICE,” one individual’s sign reads. “Detox from FOX,” another says.
“This is a weekly protest,” the Facebook post says.
The churchgoer told Crime Watch Minneapolis that attendees can hear the protesters during and after the service. “We are followed and they now have high res cameras. They are taking pictures of us walking into church and are threatening to follow us, take pics of our plates and publish photos of our faces,” the person said.
They explained that police have told them that what the protesters are doing is not illegal. “I just want the freedom to worship without [fear] and not be hounded or harassed,” the person told Crime Watch Minneapolis.
Federal authorities have launched investigations and pursued charges against participants in the Jan. 18 mob, including for potential violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which also protects places of worship. Arrests have included Armstrong, Allen and former CNN anchor Don Lemon, who livestreamed the event.
Cities Church leaders called the incident shameful and unlawful, while Southern Baptist figures and lawmakers condemned it as an attack on religious freedom.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
