Mehdi Unfiltered Pastor Arrested in ICE Protest Speaks to Zeteo
Jan 29, 2026
Quinlan Koch, pastor at First Lutheran Church of Red Wing and faith leader arrested during an ICE protest, shares his perspective. He recounts the prayerful sit-in at the Minneapolis–St. Paul terminal. He contrasts hymn-singing clergy with police in riot gear. He discusses community impact in Red Wing and faith-driven calls to de-escalate and protect neighbors.
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Clergy Sit-In And Arrest At MSP
- Quinlan Koch describes joining 70 Minnesota faith leaders in a prayerful sit-in at MSP Terminal 1 demanding an end to deportation flights.
- He says they were arrested while rooted in faith and hope this marks a turning point against the actions.
Peaceful Worship Met With Militarized Response
- Koch contrasts peaceful hymn-singing with police in riot gear and suggests speaking truth to power often provokes force.
- He frames the heavy response as historically consistent when faith challenges authority.
Local Harm Felt In Small-Town Minnesota
- Koch recounts local impacts in Red Wing: immigrant families stopped visiting the food shelf and a student skipped school from fear.
- He says these disruptions show the trauma of ICE actions reaches beyond Minneapolis into smaller communities.