At Corinthian Baptist Church in Des Moines, a fellowship hall filled to overflowing with roughly 500 district employees, students, parents and other supporters of Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, prayed, shouted, voiced fear and frustration, appealed for more compassion and demanded the superintendent's immediate release from detention.

State Rep. Robert Johnson, a Des Moines Democrat who helped swiftly organize the Friday, Sept. 26, event with faith leaders and community members after Roberts' arrest, drew standing ovations as he blamed the Trump administration for the superintendent's arrest and told supporters: "We're not just going to throw Ian Roberts away."

Johnson said there were still many questions that needed answers, but he he knew one thing: "If they can

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