What began as a protest outside a federal immigration facility has now turned into a legal standoff involving pepper spray, a clerical collar, and some very strange claims.
According to the Daily Mail, Rev. David Black, a senior pastor at Chicago’s First Presbyterian Church, says he was quietly praying when federal agents fired pepper rounds at him during a demonstration last month outside the Broadview ICE facility in Illinois.
According to Black, he attended two rallies—one on September 26 and the other on October 10—during which federal agents escalated force against demonstrators protesting detention policies.
Minister Claims Prayer, Video Shows Collapse
During the October 10 event, Black says he was standing off to the side, dressed in his clerical collar and engaged in verbal prayer, when agents stationed on the roof opened fire using pepper ball guns.
A video, now circulated widely online, captures the moment he was struck in the head, collapsing as others rushed to assist him. "They shot me in my head and my face and multiple times in my torso, arms, and legs," Black told media outlets, claiming agents laughed as they fired.
Federal Perspective Paints a Different Picture
The Department of Homeland Security pushed back hard on Black’s version of events, stating protesters were far from peaceful. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS official, claimed demonstrators obstructed ICE vehicles and threw objects, including rocks and fireworks, at federal personnel. "Obstructing law enforcement puts officers, detainees, and the public at risk," she said. "If you are obstructing law enforcement, you can expect to be met with force."
Pastor Denies Violence, Joins Legal Challenge
Black flatly denied those claims, insisting that the crowd was calm, organized, and peaceful before force was used. “We were standing, speaking, and singing peacefully and chanting peacefully before the violence began,” he said.
The incident prompted Black to join a lawsuit filed by other demonstrators and journalists, charging ICE agents and the Trump administration with excessive force and religious discrimination. The suit argues that agents trampled on the protestors’ First and Fourth Amendment rights, and—in the case of clergy like Black—violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Legal Accusations Extend Beyond Excessive Force
The lawsuit contends that officers acted without provocation and with no “legitimate purpose,” aiming to deter protest through fear and intimidation.
Photos from both September 26 and October 10 appear to support at least the deployment of riot response tactics: one shows a pepper ball gun aimed at the crowd, and another shows more direct conflicts between police and protesters. “The officers are not physically threatened. No government property is threatened,” the suit claims. “Defendants are acting to intimidate and silence the press and civilians engaged in protected First Amendment activities.”
Pastor’s Statements Mix Faith with Protest
Reverend Black’s narrative weaves spiritual conviction with political commentary, describing the use of force as both excessive and immoral. At one point, Black deflected accusations that he made obscene hand gestures during the protest by adding, “To the extent that the Holy Spirit appears as a bird, perhaps there is spiritual truth to her claim.” It’s the sort of line that might make even a well-intentioned observer question whether prayer time came with a side of political theater.
Broader Implications for Protest Culture
The protest-turned-lawsuit underscores the growing friction between federal agencies tasked with enforcing immigration law and activists determined to challenge it—often with a performative flair.
Whether agents acted out of line or simply responded to chaos caused by demonstrators may ultimately be decided in court, but what remains clear is the instability of our current moment. “I am grateful to show up with these protesters,” Black said. “People who deeply believe in democracy and are bringing peaceful and moral witness against what the Trump administration is trying to do in Chicago.”
Public Reaction, Credibility On The Line
The clash raises another question: in a time of viral videos and instant outrage, who defines truth—the preacher in the collar, or the agents on the roof? Black’s dramatic retelling, complete with claims of being “completely disabled,” invites proper investigation, as does DHS’s insistence that a peaceful crowd became dangerous. Both sides come wrapped in politics, but neither side can escape the consequences of their actions being scrutinized in real time by the public.
