Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Demovictory9

(36,189 posts)
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 08:39 AM Yesterday

Anonymous, unidentifiable laughing masked men without warrant grabs man in church lot, points rifle at pastor

Church Leaders Shaken After a Man Was Detained in Their Parking Lot - The New York Times https://share.google/UG5w7HYa5XJ4wNT8Z

The Rev. Tanya Lopez, senior pastor of Downey Memorial Christian Church, said she was in her office on Wednesday when three SUVs with tinted windows pulled up to her church. Then, Ms. Lopez said, five men, some wearing badges and tan bulletproof vests that said “POLICE,” rushed out of the vehicles and detained a man in the parking lot.

The men, Ms. Lopez said, refused to identify which agency they worked for, and they did not share their names or badge numbers when asked. Their vehicles had out-of-state license plates. They also did not provide a warrant, she said.

They took the man into a black SUV. And, Ms. Lopez said that as she shouted instructions in Spanish to the man inside the vehicle, an agent drew a rifle at her.

“It came across as essentially a final warning, to step back,” Ms. Lopez said, adding that the men then laughed at her and “started cracking up.”



She said she did not know the man and believed him to be someone just passing by the church at the time.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Anonymous, unidentifiable laughing masked men without warrant grabs man in church lot, points rifle at pastor (Original Post) Demovictory9 Yesterday OP
"This gentleman just shouted, 'The whole country is our property.'" Demovictory9 Yesterday #1
Trump believes everything belongs to him. Irish_Dem Yesterday #3
That really supports the theory that many ICE "agents" are deputized Proud Boys or J6ers. tanyev Yesterday #4
Also backs the idea that ICE is Trump's Gestapo DSandra Yesterday #9
YEP.... tRump's personal terror squad. groundloop Yesterday #10
Immigrant Patrols, the 21st century version of Slave Patrols. sop Yesterday #2
Fun With Terrorism Mr.Bee Yesterday #5
They are raiding churches Farmer-Rick Yesterday #6
No face, No Badge, Hieronymus Phact Yesterday #7
Jess Piper was talking about something similarl xmas74 Yesterday #8
It happened in Philadelphia PA. BBbats Yesterday #11

Demovictory9

(36,189 posts)
1. "This gentleman just shouted, 'The whole country is our property.'"
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 08:41 AM
Yesterday

The Rev. Al Lopez, an administrative pastor at the church, said that he tried to question the men in the parking lot, and told one of them that church leaders did not want them on church property.

“This will stand in my mind,” Mr. Lopez said. “This gentleman just shouted, ‘The whole country is our property.’”

tanyev

(46,712 posts)
4. That really supports the theory that many ICE "agents" are deputized Proud Boys or J6ers.
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 08:58 AM
Yesterday

Last edited Thu Jun 12, 2025, 01:10 PM - Edit history (1)

No matter how corrupt, most trained law enforcement officers are not going to behave the way we are seeing so many ICE agents behave.

groundloop

(13,043 posts)
10. YEP.... tRump's personal terror squad.
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 11:04 AM
Yesterday

And who the hell is going to stop them tRump controlling the DOJ?

xmas74

(29,869 posts)
8. Jess Piper was talking about something similarl
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 10:50 AM
Yesterday

In Missouri a few months back.

Some guy with no ID claimed he was ICE and tried to abduct someone who he thought shouldn't be here.

I think this is going to happen more in the near future. I've already noticed people posting about doing something similar on local social media groups, under pseudonyms of course.

BBbats

(208 posts)
11. It happened in Philadelphia PA.
Thu Jun 12, 2025, 11:12 AM
Yesterday

Someone wearing an ICE jacket went into a business zip tied a person & made off with $1000.
Don't have the details in front of me but it made the local news.
You can buy ICE jackets,vests,hats & T Shirts..I've seen them online & in shops & flea markets.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Anonymous, unidentifiable...