Gerrard Kaonga
A pastor has said he was offered no warning before he was shot by ICE agents while he was protesting peacefully.
A video showing ICE agents on a roof while protestors demonstrated below on the street has been circulating on social media.
While videos of protests are becoming more common, this video has caught people’s attention because of how one of the protestors, a pastor, is treated by the agents.
Reverand David Black of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago appeared to be praying when he was shot with a pepper ball in the face.
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Black defended his actions and insisted he was praying for the officers and those detained when he was shot at without warning, in a protest in Illinois last month.
The pastor spoke to CNN about the incident earlier this week and admitted he found the whole moment ‘disturbing’.
He said: “We could hear them laughing as they were shooting us from the roof, and it was deeply disturbing.
“We got to witness a few things about these ICE agents operating in broad view, and really it has shown us how disorganized they are and how poorly supervised and trained they are.”
Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary with the Department of Homeland Security, seemed to defend the actions of the ICE agents.
She argued that the demonstrators were preventing an ICE vehicle from leaving the federal facility and hampering operations.
She also claimed that demonstrators had thrown rocks, bottles and fireworks at the authorities on the roof.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, she said: “Obstructing law enforcement puts officers, detainees and the public at risk. If you are obstructing law enforcement you can expect to be met with force,"
The pastor denied McLaughlin’s version of events and said they were ‘categorically false’.
He said: “There were no ICE vehicles attempting to leave the facility.
“I was standing to the side in a gesture of prayer and praying verbally for the ICE officers and those detained inside.”
He also addressed a post she put on Twitter where she accused Black of swearing at the ice agents.
Black added: “I find it interesting that this individual believes I flipped them the bird, because theologically, as I have been praying for all of these people. I’ve been hoping that the Holy Spirit will descend upon them and open their hearts and minds.
“To the extent that the Holy Spirit appears as a bird, perhaps there is spiritual truth to her claim."
UNILAD has contacted Homeland Security for comment.