In a shocking turn of events, internet sleuths found out that a director at the St. Paul ICE field office is also a pastor. Leading a Minnesota church and being in charge of ICE don’t sound like two things that mesh well together. As a result, Minnesotans decided to protest the church, showing up outside services to call out this madness. In a recent TikTok video, a journalist decides to confront a member of the congregation with some questions. It turns out, the congregation within may be a little out of touch.
David Easterwood, ICE director in Minnesota, is also a pastor at Cities Church in St. Paul. After the death of Renee Good, protestors showed up at the church to share their distaste for ICE. Protestors continue to gather outside the church, showing up for the lives that have been lost and calling for an end to ICE operations. Host and journalist Don Lemon (@donlemon) showed up so that he could speak with congregants of the church about their feelings on the protests.
Don can be seen stopping a congregant as church services let out for the day. The member comes out holding his hands up, deeply displeased to see protestors everywhere. He tells Don that he came to church with his son and wants to go home. He then states, “I’m sorry that you guys are so angry.” When Don asks him, “Do you understand why they’re angry?” he replies with, “I don’t understand any of this. I’m a simple man who loves the Lord and is a good father.” He says that he looks forward to church services and says it’s “not something that we have to run away from.”
Don then asks the congregant, “Do you understand that some of these folks feel voiceless?” Again, the man answers, “I don’t understand.” He tries to defend his stance by saying he’s “Christian” and “we love everyone,” including the protestors, apparently. For some reason, it’s so difficult for him to understand why they’re out there and why they’re furious. But that’s to be expected.
The congregant member tells Don that this conversation is a “bit loaded” and tells him he doesn’t want an interview. It’s easy for him to just go home and forget that his peace was disrupted for a few seconds as he left the church. As one commenter mentioned, “Translation: I only care about myself. The misery of others is not my concern as long as I believe I am going to heaven.” Another asked, “That was a bad day for him??! Imagine how bad every single day is for immigrants, POC and anybody else that is targeted by this administration!”
