You’ve probably seen the video. It’s grainy, shaky, and honestly hard to watch. A man in a clerical collar stands with his arms spread wide, palms open, in front of a line of federal agents. He isn't shouting. He isn't throwing anything. He's praying. Then, in a sudden burst of white smoke and chaos, he’s on the ground.
That man is Chicago pastor David Black.
Since that afternoon in September 2025 outside the Broadview Detention Center, his name has been everywhere—from CNN and MSNBC to the halls of Congress. But if you think this is just another story about a "political" preacher, you're missing the weird, radical, and deeply historic reality of what’s actually happening on Chicago’s South Side.
The Broadview Incident: Prayer Under Fire
Most people found out about David Black because of a pepper ball. On September 19, 2025, during a protest against ICE operations, Black was struck seven times by federal agents. One of those rounds hit him directly in the head.
"I invited them to repentance," Black later told reporters. He basically offered an "altar call" to the agents standing on the roof of the facility. It sounds like something out of a movie, but for Black, it was a literal application of his theology. He was praying for the souls of the officers and the freedom of those detained inside when the agents opened fire.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) later tried to claim the protesters were obstructing vehicles. They even used quotation marks around the word "pastor" in social media posts, trying to frame him as a fake or an agitator. Some talking heads on Newsmax even called him an Antifa member in disguise.
📖 Related: Sweden School Shooting 2025: What Really Happened at Campus Risbergska
But here's the thing: the video doesn't lie. Black was standing near a handicap parking space, nowhere near a moving vehicle, when he was hit. He wasn't scaling fences or throwing rocks. He was standing still.
The fallout has been massive. Black is now a lead plaintiff in an ACLU lawsuit against the administration, alleging "lethal and brutal suppression" of First Amendment rights. He still talks about having respiratory issues from the chemical irritants months later.
Who Is David Black?
It’s easy to peg him as a "progressive" because of his activism, but his background is a bit more of a mosaic.
- Global Roots: He grew up in evangelical missionary churches all over the world.
- The Quaker Influence: During college, he became a Quaker, which explains that "peaceful but stubborn" energy he brings to protests.
- Education: He’s got serious academic credentials—graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2018 with a focus on Black Church Studies.
- The Debt Hurdle: Honestly, he almost didn't make it to Chicago. Like a lot of young people, he was buried in student debt. It was only through a grant from the Presbyterian Board of Pensions that he could afford to take the call at a smaller, historic church instead of chasing a high-paying corporate gig.
He took over as the Senior Pastor of The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago (often called "First Church") in September 2020. Imagine starting a new job leading a historic congregation right in the middle of a global pandemic. That was his introduction to the city.
A Church of "Troublemakers, Misfits, and Mystics"
First Church isn't just some dusty old building in Woodlawn. It’s actually the oldest congregation in Chicago, founded in 1833 in a carpentry shop.
👉 See also: Will Palestine Ever Be Free: What Most People Get Wrong
When Black calls it a church of "troublemakers," he’s leaning into a 190-year-old tradition. This is the same church that organized Chicago’s first abolitionist society and helped run the Underground Railroad. They integrated their classrooms when the rest of the city was segregated. They even publicly told the government they’d disobey the Fugitive Slave Act.
Today, under Black’s leadership, the church looks more like a community hub than a traditional Sunday-service-only spot.
They host:
- Nine different artists-in-residence.
- The 773 Dance Project.
- An avant-garde jazz collective (AACM).
- A mutual aid legal clinic.
- A chef-in-residence.
It’s a "progressive church with traditional theology," as they put it. They take the Bible seriously, but they don't think that means you have to leave your brain—or your identity—at the door. They’re openly queer-affirming and focused on what Black calls "deliverance ministry."
What Most People Get Wrong About His Activism
The biggest misconception is that David Black is doing this for the cameras.
✨ Don't miss: JD Vance River Raised Controversy: What Really Happened in Ohio
If you talk to him, he’ll tell you he’s a "fundamentalist" about the Gospel. He believes that if you actually follow the teachings of Jesus, you eventually end up in places like Broadview. To him, the "demonic presence" isn't a metaphor; he views systemic oppression as something that needs to be "cast out" just like the demons in the New Testament.
In late 2025, he testified before Congress, not just about his own injuries, but about what he called "the meaning of the Gospel at the end of the world." He’s convinced that we are in a "world-building" moment where people have to choose between fear and solidarity.
Interestingly, his church has seen a surge in new members since the ICE incident. But they aren't all lifelong Christians. Many are people who haven't stepped foot in a church in decades—or ever. They’re coming because they saw a man in a collar get shot for praying, and they want to know what kind of faith makes someone do that.
Actionable Insights: What This Means for You
Whether you're a person of faith or just someone interested in civil rights, the story of David Black offers a few concrete takeaways:
- Know Your Rights: The ACLU lawsuit highlights that the right to "religious exercise" includes public prayer and protest. You don't lose your First Amendment protections just because you're on a sidewalk near a federal building.
- Support Local Mutual Aid: Black’s church thrives because it doesn't just preach; it provides. Look for "adaptive reuse" projects in your own city where historic spaces are being used for community legal clinics or art hubs.
- Question the Narrative: When agencies use "scare quotes" around someone's title or labels like "Antifa," look for the raw footage. In the age of social media, the full context is often available if you dig past the headlines.
- Theology Matters: Understanding the difference between "Evangelical missionary roots" and "Quaker-influenced Presbyterianism" helps explain why a leader like Black acts the way he does. It’s not just politics; it’s a deep-seated worldview.
David Black lives in Woodlawn with his dog, Bella (the "parish pup"), and a collection of plants that he says are "doing surprisingly well." He continues to lead protests, continue his lawsuit, and—most importantly to him—pastor a community that believes the oldest church in Chicago still has some trouble to make.
If you want to support the work being done at First Church or learn more about their mutual aid programs, you can find them in the Woodlawn neighborhood or follow their public legal filings regarding the Broadview incident.