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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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Shelisa Demuth, the daughter of Minnesota House Speaker and gubernatorial candidate Lisa Demuth, has shared her reasons for posting a fiery public comment on her mom's Facebook page in an exclusive chat with Newsweek.
The social media comment she posted was in response to her mother’s criticism of anti-ICE protesters—a moment that has drawn wide attention as immigration enforcement and protest activity intensify across the state.
“The comment took no time to write, maybe 30 seconds, but it’s taken on a life of its own,” Shelisa told Newsweek. “Sometimes the little things reveal a lot.”
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Her comment, posted publicly on Facebook on January 19, came roughly an hour after Lisa Demuth condemned protesters who disrupted a church service in St. Paul to call attention to federal immigration enforcement actions. Shelisa’s response invoked the role of protest in securing civil rights and questioned how dissent is being framed by political leaders.
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The Post In Full
In a Facebook post shared on January 19, Minnesota House Speaker and gubernatorial candidate Lisa Demuth criticized anti-ICE protesters who disrupted a Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul. Her post read:
“The behavior we saw over the weekend with protestors disrupting church services over suspicion of political differences, is absolutely unacceptable.
Every leader should condemn this blatant attempt to stifle freedom of speech and religion.
Peaceful protest is a part of the foundation of our country — shutting down a house of worship because you disagree with one of its leaders is not.”
Roughly an hour later, her daughter, Shelisa Demuth, who is the communications executive and founder of LAUREL, responded publicly in the comment section with the following message:
“Hey mom. Let me remind you that your right to work and vote and marry the man you love as a Black woman was thanks to protests a lot like this one. And now look at the power you hold. It’s only because of the dissent of those who came before you.
Injustice to anyone is injustice to everyone. You should be outraged.
It’s not supposed to be comfortable to challenge systems and make change. At least now you’re paying attention."
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Why It Matters
Lisa Demuth is a Republican lawmaker representing District 13A and currently serves as Speaker of the Minnesota House during the 94th Legislature.
In November 2025, she launched a campaign for governor, seeking the Republican endorsement and aiming to become the first female governor in state history. She has publicly aligned herself with President Donald Trump and has taken a firm stance on law-and-order issues.
Shelisa’s decision to respond publicly to her mother comes at a time when federal immigration actions have escalated in the state, prompting sustained demonstrations and growing scrutiny of how protest is characterized by elected officials.
Now over a week later, Shelisa explained that her decision to speak out was rooted in the importance of being able to disagree respectfully, even with family members.
“Accountability doesn't require estrangement—that's what's broken about this moment,” Shelisa told Newsweek. “Without mutual respect, criticism this direct sounds like noise.”
Newsweek reached out to Lisa Demuth's office via email for comment but did not receive a reply at the time of publishing.
What To Know
On January 19, Lisa Demuth posted on Facebook condemning protesters who disrupted a Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul. The protest forced the service to end early and was part of broader demonstrations against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota.
The protesters alleged that a Cities Church pastor, David Easterwood, also served as acting director of ICE’s St. Paul field office—a claim that circulated widely among activist groups and helped make the church a focal point of protest.
Shelisa explained that the decision to respond publicly was deliberate.
“My intention was to expand how she and the people who align with her are looking at the issue of peaceful protest and civil disobedience,” Shelisa told Newsweek. “In media and social channels, the narrative quickly turns on protesters who become the problem when our focus needs to be directed toward the harm that caused the protest and not the tactics of people who are addressing injustice.”
While the comment in a public forum was unexpected for many watching, Shelisa explained that she and her mother have a good relationship.
“We’re in regular communication and have discussed this,” she said. “I could have easily picked up the phone instead, but presenting the facts doesn't always invite conversation.”
What Happens Next
The exchange comes amid heightened tensions surrounding federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Since late 2025, ICE and U.S. Border Patrol have expanded operations across the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area as part of what federal officials have described as “Operation Metro Surge.”
As Lisa Demuth continues her gubernatorial campaign, scrutiny of her positions—and the broader debate over protest, civil disobedience, and political accountability—is likely to grow. For Shelisa, the moment underscores something deeper about public discourse.
“It’s not supposed to be comfortable to challenge systems and make change,” she said. “At least now you’re paying attention.”
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