Federal officers pepper-sprayed pastor Reverend David Black multiple times during a peaceful protest outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility in Broadview, Illinois. The incident took place on September 19, 2025, during what demonstrators described as a spiritual and non-violent gathering.
Shocking Incident Involving Pastor Outside Chicago ICE Facility
Viral footage shared widely on social media showed federal officers striking the pastor — wearing his clerical collar — in the head and torso with pepper spray balls fired from the roof of the facility. Black, who serves as the minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, said the officers hit him seven times during the confrontation.
According to the pastor, the attack came without warning. Speaking in his first televised interview on CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront, he said the officers fired indiscriminately at demonstrators who were chanting and praying peacefully. “We could hear them laughing as they were shooting us from the roof, and it was deeply disturbing,” he said.
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Black also added that after being shot, he was temporarily blinded and in pain, requiring immediate help from volunteer medics on the scene. He said several other protesters rushed to protect him, using their own bodies as shields to stop more projectiles.
Court Restrains Use of Force Against Peaceful Demonstrators
Just hours after the pastor’s interview aired, a Chicago court issued a temporary restraining order against government agents, blocking the use of aggressive crowd-control tactics against faith-based demonstrators and journalists. The ruling came in response to complaints filed by multiple organizations following the September 19 protest.
Footage from the event showed protesters helping each other treat injuries after repeated bursts of chemical irritants struck them. Many coughed, rinsed their eyes, and struggled to breathe as federal agents continued dispersing the crowd.
ICE officials, however, presented a different version of events. Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin reposted the viral footage on the platform X (formerly Twitter), claiming the video “clipped” and did not show demonstrators blocking an ICE vehicle. McLaughlin accused protesters of acting as “agitators” and said the crowd attacked officers with rocks, bottles, and fireworks.
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She also alleged that Reverend Black made an obscene gesture — “flipping the bird” — at her and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem during an earlier visit. “If you are obstructing law enforcement, you can expect to be met with force,” McLaughlin wrote.
The pastor, however, called those claims “categorically false.” Speaking to CNN, he said he was praying during the incident, not making any offensive gestures. “Rather than flipping the bird, I was standing to the side in a gesture of prayer and praying verbally for the ICE officers and those detained inside,” he said.
Pastor Describes Chaos and ‘Vicious’ Pepper-Spray Assault
Reverend Black described the incident as “vicious and indiscriminate.” After officers struck him in the head, they continued firing at close range without warning. “Others rushed in to support me and took many more hits intended for me,” he said.
Witnesses reported that about 20 ICE officers emerged from the facility and pushed protesters aside. According to the pastor, the officers soaked his clothes completely with large amounts of pepper spray. “They drenched me from the crown of my head to my socks and shoes,” he added.
Images showed volunteer medics treating demonstrators on the ground with water, gauze, and saline. Many described the officers’ actions as chaotic and excessive for a peaceful demonstration.
Faith-based groups in Chicago continued holding rallies demanding transparency in immigration enforcement. Following the confrontation, the court issued a temporary restraining order as a key legal step. Reverend Black called it a “victory for everyone, especially the brave protesters.” He also criticized the ICE officers’ organization and supervision, saying, “They are disorganized and poorly trained.”