Our rights are being trampled on by the Trump regime, ICE, and the federal agents willing to carry out its agenda without question. This is not law and order. It’s authoritarianism under the guise of national security. And for what? To silence prayer? To crush peaceful dissent?On October 6, I spoke with Sister Sue Fazzini, a Benedictine Sister who has spent her life in service to others. We discussed her deep concerns about what’s being done in the name of Christianity and how far it strays from the teachings of compassion, justice, and love that she’s dedicated her life to living out.While I am not religious myself, I believe it is important that we listen to other people’s perspectives about religion and why this fascist regime attempting to mutate Christianity to fit a pro-capitalistic, pro-state sanctioned violence in the name of freedom is so incredibly dangerous.Our only hope to survive what comes next is to band together across racial, economic and religious divides and stand against tyranny in all of its forms. Because if you think your religious beliefs will save you, think again.On a quiet September morning outside an ICE facility near Chicago, Reverend David Black, a Presbyterian minister and leader of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, stood with his arms outstretched in prayer.Black told The Guardian newspaper that ICE agents hit him in the head, face, torso, arms and legs with around seven or eight “pepper exploding pellets” while he was in a position of prayer.Now, he’s suing the Trump administration.He added: “I’m not a political ideologue, but I am very deeply rooted in my faith, in the ways that it calls me to show up in this moment as someone who can proclaim the good news and call these ICE agents into their right mind.”Seconds later, agents on the street spray him with tear gas. The same tear gas that is illegal for use in warfare but is legally permitted for use by law enforcement for domestic riot control in the United StatesThe incident took place on September 19, 2025, in Broadview, Illinois, and has since sparked national attention. Not just for what happened, but for what it could mean for protest rights, religious freedom, and the use of force by federal agents.Why did this happen?Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, has defended the agent’s actions. According to her, the protesters were “agitators” who were blocking an ICE vehicle from leaving the premises.DHS claims officers issued verbal warnings and were responding to objects including rocks, bottles, even fireworks being thrown at them.But Black tells a different story.He says he wasn’t throwing anything or blocking any vehicles. He was simply praying and was never given a warning before they shot him repeatedly. The lawsuit now filed on his behalf paints a picture of excessive force and a clear violation of constitutional rights.The case argues that the actions of ICE and other federal agents violated the First Amendment, religious freedom protections, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.REALITY CHECK: This isn’t just about Black. The lawsuit includes multiple plaintiffs who say their rights were similarly trampled in the name of “security.”A federal judge has already taken a step toward reining in the situation. Shortly after the incident, the court issued a temporary order limiting the kinds of tactics federal agents can use against protesters at this site. A more in-depth hearing preliminary is set for October 23.At a time when protest, policing, and religious expression are colliding more frequently in the public square, cases like this one don’t just affect those directly involved. They set precedents. They raise uncomfortable questions. And they force us to reckon with who gets to speak, who gets to pray and who gets shot for doing so.More to come after the October 23 hearing. Stay tuned.What do you think?