Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 7h

Fun fact: I broke that story. religionnews.com/2020/06/02/a...

Ahead of Trump Bible photo op, police forcibly expel priest from St. John’s church near White House

WASHINGTON (RNS) — An Episcopal priest tells RNS she was driven from church grounds ahead of Trump’s staged photo with a Bible.

religionnews.com

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 7h

Gonna be thinking about this lede for a minute.

(RNS) — Last month, the Rev. David Black stood in front of a Chicago-area U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility and spread his arms wide. Adorned in all black and wearing a clerical collar, the pastor looked up at a group of masked, heavily armed ICE agents on the roof and began to pray.

“I invited them to repentance,” Black, a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), said in an interview. “I basically offered an altar call. I invited them to come and receive that salvation, and be part of the kingdom that is coming.”

But when Black began to lower his arms a few seconds later, the agents responded to his spiritual plea by firing pepper balls, or chemical agents that cause eye irritation and respiratory distress, video footage shows. One struck Black in the head, exploding into a puff of white pepper smoke and forcing him to his knees. Fellow demonstrators rushed to his aid, and as the pastor rubbed his face in pain, the agents continued to fire.

“We could hear them laughing,” Black said.

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 7h

Wanna learn more about the pastor in this photo?

I talked to him yesterday.

He's currently part of a lawsuit against DHS, in part due to this exact moment: religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...

Religious protesters say ICE threatens religious freedom in Chicago

(RNS) — Despite potential danger, religious leaders and faith activists have been a visible presence at Chicago-area ICE protests, some waving signs with slogans such as ‘Love thy neighbor’ and ‘Who w...

religionnews.com

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 7h

Wanna learn more about the pastor in this photo?

I talked to him yesterday.

He's currently part of a lawsuit against DHS, in part due to this exact moment: religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 7h

NEW: I spoke to clergy and faith leaders who've joined protests at the Chicago-area ICE facility.

Three say they've been shot with pepper balls, sometimes while praying.

All say ICE is also violating their religious freedom, and one is arguing it in court. religionnews.com/2025/10/07/i...

Religious protesters say ICE threatens religious freedom in Chicago

(RNS) — Despite potential danger, religious leaders and faith activists have been a visible presence at Chicago-area ICE protests, some waving signs with slogans such as ‘Love thy neighbor’ and ‘Who w...

religionnews.com

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RNS @rns.org · 17h

This week on "Complexified": What happens when the Pentagon becomes a pulpit?
religionnews.com/2025/10/06/b...

Baptizing the Battlefield: Pete Hegseth’s Holy War at the Pentagon

What happens when the Pentagon becomes a pulpit?

religionnews.com

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 18h

Religion aside: Rep. Moore, a Catholic, flies a Jerusalem cross flag outside his office and invited Bp. Robert Barron — a conservative bishop w/a large social media following — to Trump's joint address to Congress.

Barron oversaw a private mass for Moore and others that we still know little about.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 18h

Rep. Riley Moore: "I think the actual residents of Washington DC are very happy with the outcome. And I think the actual residents of Chicago and our other great cities here in America would actually like to have safe streets and not people murdered every night."

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Reposted by Jack Jenkins

Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: Pair of lawsuits challenging Trump's targeting of Chicago get first hearings.

The lawsuits challenge the Trump administration's military deployment efforts and harsh treatment of protesters and journalists. More hearings are set for later this week.

Tonight, at Law Dork:

Pair of lawsuits challenging Trump's targeting of Chicago get first hearings

The lawsuits challenge the Trump administration's military deployment efforts and harsh treatment of protesters and journalists. More hearings are set for later this week.

www.lawdork.com

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 19h

Pro tip: if you’re, say, canceling a streaming services, etc., these days, consider using those funds to subscribe to a local newspaper or, I dunno, maybe donate to a nonprofit outlet.

I hear all the cool kids are doing it. religionnews.com?form=donate

RNS | Covering the world of religion.

RNS is an independent, nonprofit and award-winning source of global news on religion, spirituality and culture. Founded in 1934, RNS seeks to inform readers with objective reporting and insightful com...

religionnews.com

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Reposted by Jack Jenkins

Jon Gambrell @jongambrell.bsky.social · 20h

APNewsAlert: VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican announces first trip of Pope Leo IV's papacy, to Turkey and Lebanon from Nov. 27-Dec. 2.

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

Just saw this one! Again: weirdly powerful!

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

Technically two, actually: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQd4...

Andor: Nemik's Manifesto

YouTube video by SWFT

www.youtube.com

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

FYI: There's a Nemik super-edit that's…weirdly powerful? www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf60...

Andor: Karis Nemik

YouTube video by SWFT

www.youtube.com

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

Not sure if you’re directing that to me or the media at large, but: I’ve been working on a story about these particular protests for weeks, and have covered similar faith-based protests against ICE in DC and LA all year.

But…I rarely have competition, bc most outlets don’t have religion reporters.

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

3. And yes, the complaint also includes a religious freedom claim (RFRA, no less).

That brings my count of faith groups/leaders who have sued the Trump admin this year to 56 or 57, depending on how you count it.

At least 5 of those lawsuits allege the Trump admin violated their religious freedom.

COUNT II
Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb-1
149. Plaintiffs incorporate by reference each of the paragraphs in this Complaint as if
restated fully herein.
150. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (“RFRA”), provides that “Government
shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion even if the burden results from a
rule of general applicability.” 42 U.S.C. § 2000bb-1(a).
151. Defendants’ policy, pattern, and practice of targeting Rev. Black and other
similarly situated Religious Exercise subclass members with violence substantially burdens their
exercise of religion.
152. No compelling governmental interest exists that would justify Defendants’ use of
force against clergy peacefully praying in public spaces, nor is the wanton and gratuitous
violence employed by Defendants the least restrictive means of furthering any compelling
governmental interests that might exist.

153. Defendants’ ongoing conduct in violation of Plaintiff’s and subclass members’
rights and liberties under federal law has caused and is causing them irreparable harm.
154. In the absence of an injunction, Defendants will continue to use force against Rev.
Black and other Religious Exercise subclass members in an effort to stop them from exercising
their religious beliefs.
155. Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief and reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses
relating to this action.

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

2. …and he told me (among other things — stay tuned for a long story later) that he has suffered from respiratory issues ever since that incident.

He also told me that as he knelt in pain (see below), he could hear the agents laughing. bsky.app/profile/mske...

Preorder Read This When Things Fall Apart @mskellymhayes.bsky.social · 18d

CW: protester being struck in the head by a pepper ball

Footage I took earlier of the moment Reverend David Black, a regular protester outside of the Broadview Detention Center, was shot in the head with a pepper ball by ICE agents on the roof of the facility.

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

1. As Chris notes, in addition to journalist plaintiffs in here, there's a religious plaintiff: Rev. David Black, a Presbyterian minister who was filmed being shot by federal agents with what appeared to be pepper balls while praying outside the Broadview ICE office.

I just spoke with that pastor…

Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: I'm listening in on a second new lawsuit out of Illinois today, addressing First Amendment freedoms surrounding protests, including press and religious claims.

Judge Sara Ellis, an Obama appointee, is hearing the TRO motion and has found the plaintiffs, for TRO purposes, have standing.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB, BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO, CHICAGO NEWSPAPER GUILD LOCAL 34071, NABET-CWA LOCAL 54041, ILLINOIS PRESS ASSOCIATION, RAVEN GEARY, CHARLES THRUSH, STEPHEN HELD, DAVID BLACK, WILLIAM PAULSON, AUTUMN REIDY-HAMER, and LEIGH KUNKEL, on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated,
Plaintiffs,
V.
KRISTI NOEM, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS); TODD LYONS,
Acting Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); MARCOS CHARLES,
Acting Executive Associate Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations, ICE;
RUSSELL HOTT, Chicago Field Office
Director, ICE; RODNEY S. SCOTT,
Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); GREGORY BOVINO, Chief Border Patrol Agent, CBP; DANIEL
DRISCOLL, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF);
WILLIAM K. MARSHALL III, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP); PAMELA BONDI, Attorney General of the United States;
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE; UNIDENTIFIED FEDERAL OFFICER DEFENDANTS; UNIDENTIFIED FEDERAL AGENCY DEFENDANTS; and
DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States,
No. 25-cv-12173
PLAINTIFFS' COMPLAINT FOR INJUCTIVE AND DECLARATORY RELIEF

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Reposted by Jack Jenkins

Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: I'm listening in on a second new lawsuit out of Illinois today, addressing First Amendment freedoms surrounding protests, including press and religious claims.

Judge Sara Ellis, an Obama appointee, is hearing the TRO motion and has found the plaintiffs, for TRO purposes, have standing.

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Heartland Signal @heartlandsignal.bsky.social · 1d

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson:

"Private establishments can partner with us to make it clear that private property is private property and ICE cannot enter establishments without a valid warrant ... If Congress will not check this administration, then Chicago will."

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

Like, as a practical matter, if a government is arguing that a city has descended into such domestic chaos that it requires support from the U.S. armed forces, shouldn’t that be a pretty easy thing to prove?

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

This is *wild.*

A reporter notes local police contradict White House’s claims used to justify deploying troops to a U.S. city, and the press secretary blames partisanship and says she’ll bring a group of independent journalists to the WH to offer a different account?

We’re talking about a…city!

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

COLLINS: The police chief of Portland says the president's claims don't match up with what's happening on the ground

LEAVITT: You're probably talking to partisan Democrat officials who are opposed to everything this president does

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yonat.bsky.social @yonat.bsky.social · 1d

Conservative Church of England congregations, both evangelical and Anglo-Catholic, are happy have a woman as their next archbishop of Canterbury. Their real worry is her views on same-sex marriage. religionnews.com/2025/10/06/s...

Conservative British Anglicans extend the first woman archbishop a warm embrace

LONDON (RNS) — Conservative Church of England congregations, both evangelical and Anglo-Catholic, are willing to accept Mullally's gender. Their real worry is her views on same-sex marriage.

religionnews.com

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 1d

A question that hovers above a lot of these kinds of DHS X posts: who is the audience, exactly?

Is the idea to demean those they see as their opponents (which have included U.S. citizens) in order to garner support from the right? Or is it a recruitment tool?

Tess Owen @tessowen.bsky.social · 1d

Judging by the responses to this DHS post, its goal seems to be to mock the physical appearance of a (presumably) American protester.

I wonder if we can think of another political movement in history that was obsessed with the physical appearance of its citizens

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Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: 27 Chicago police officers were exposed to tear gas fired by federal agents during a confrontation with residents on Saturday in Brighton Park, Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said. @wttw.bsky.social

Heather Cherone @heathercherone.bsky.social · 2d

FULL STORY: Federal prosecutors charged two Chicagoans, including a woman shot by federal agents, with ramming a vehicle driven by a federal agent in Brighton Park on Saturday morning, sparking a heated confrontation between residents & federal agents. @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/10/05/2...

2 Chicagoans, Including Woman Shot by Federal Agents, Charged with Ramming Border Patrol Vehicle

Marimar Martinez, 30, and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, 21, are facing felony charges of “forcibly assaulting, impeding, and interfering with a federal law enforcement officer,” federal prosecutors announc...

news.wttw.com

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Tess Owen @tessowen.bsky.social · 1d

Judging by the responses to this DHS post, its goal seems to be to mock the physical appearance of a (presumably) American protester.

I wonder if we can think of another political movement in history that was obsessed with the physical appearance of its citizens

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