Former Democratic Congresswoman and current Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, has highlighted the recent disruption at Cities Church in St. Paul as a reflection of why she parted ways with the Democratic Party. The incident involved anti-ICE demonstrators who entered the church during a service, chanting and creating a disturbance as congregants gathered for worship. The protest specifically targeted Pastor David Easterwood, recognized as ICE’s St. Paul field officer.
This event follows the tragic shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis earlier this month, which involved ICE and triggered widespread protests. Law enforcement responses to these demonstrations have been criticized, with reports of citizens being detained based on assumptions about their immigration status.
Gabbard, a practicing Hindu, shared her perspective on social media, stating that one of her primary reasons for leaving the Democratic Party was its growing “hostility towards God” and those who practice their faith. She condemned the actions of the protesters at Cities Church, describing them as intimidation tactics directed at innocent congregants, including women and children. Gabbard characterized such behavior as “demonic” and called for accountability for those involved.
According to Gabbard, the church incident is emblematic of a broader problem she perceives within the Democratic Party. She believes that the party increasingly targets religious individuals and marginalizes people who publicly embrace their faith. The Minnesota protest, she argued, demonstrates a wider pattern of hostility toward those devoted to God and their right to worship freely.
Gabbard officially left the Democratic Party in 2022, labeling it as an “elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness.” Her departure and continued criticisms underscore her belief that political and religious freedoms are under threat from what she perceives as ideological extremism within her former party. The recent church protest, she asserts, serves as yet another example validating her concerns about faith-based oppression in the political arena.
