MINNEAPOLIS — In the wake of a protest that disrupted services at a Minnesota church, Nekima Levy Armstrong, a well-known civil rights attorney, and at least two additional individuals were arrested, according to federal officials associated with the Trump administration. This event occurred as Vice President JD Vance arrived in the state amidst ongoing immigration enforcement activities.
The arrest of Levy Armstrong was confirmed by Attorney General Pam Bondi through a post on the social media platform X. The protest took place on Sunday at Cities Church in St. Paul, where one of the pastors serves as a local official with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Following Levy Armstrong's arrest, Bondi announced that a second individual had been detained, with a third arrest later declared by FBI Director Kash Patel.
The Justice Department responded swiftly by launching a civil rights investigation after protesters interrupted the service while chanting slogans such as "ICE out" and "Justice for Renee Good," referring to a 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier this month.
Emphasizing respect for worship spaces, Attorney General Bondi stated on X, "Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP." Cities Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, and one of its pastors, David Easterwood, leads the local ICE field office. It is not uncommon for pastors within many Baptist churches to maintain secondary professions.
Legal representatives for the church praised the arrests. Doug Wardlow, director of litigation at True North Legal—a public interest civil rights law firm—remarked in a statement that the Department of Justice's prompt action was appropriate in addressing what they described as a serious offense.
Levy Armstrong had publicly called for the resignation of the ICE-affiliated pastor, highlighting a "fundamental moral conflict" in his dual role. She criticized the protection of armed agents and the reluctance to pursue thorough investigations into incidents such as Renee Good’s death, alleging such actions amounted to intimidation rather than justice.
Leadership within the Southern Baptist Convention defended the church, arguing that compassion for families affected by immigration enforcement does not justify intrusions into sacred worship spaces. Vice President Vance, speaking prior to his arrival in Minnesota, issued a stern warning to those involved in the protests, declaring, "Those people are going to be sent to prison so long as we have the power to do so. We’re going to do everything we can to enforce the law." He delivered these remarks from Toledo.
Levy Armstrong has long been a prominent figure in the Twin Cities area, known for her activism following several high-profile police-involved deaths of Black Americans, including George Floyd, Philando Castile, and Jamar Clark. She is a former president of the Minneapolis branch of the NAACP.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a photo on X depicting Levy Armstrong with her arms restrained, indicating her arrest under allegations of intimidating individuals exercising their rights. FBI Director Patel announced that Chauntyll Louisa Allen was charged under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act for physically obstructing or intimidating individuals seeking to participate in a service at a house of worship. William Kelly was also arrested, though details about their legal representation remain unspecified. Allen, a member of the Saint Paul Public Schools board of education, has her arrest acknowledged by the district but declined further comment citing legal matters.
The arrested individuals, including Allen and Levy Armstrong, are part of a community of Black activists in Minnesota who have protested deaths of African Americans at the hands of law enforcement officers. Kelly defended the protest actions during a news conference, criticizing Cities Church for its connection to a pastor working with ICE.
The Department of Justice's rapid investigation into the church protest contrasts with its earlier decision not to pursue a civil rights inquiry into Renee Good’s death. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated there was "no basis" for such an investigation in her case. Officials have characterized the ICE officer’s actions as self-defense, asserting that Good was engaging in what they describe as "an act of domestic terrorism". This approach marks a notable departure from previous administrations, which typically initiated prompt investigations into civilian deaths involving law enforcement.
Separately, the Justice Department is investigating whether Minnesota state and local officials hindered federal immigration enforcement through their public positions. Prosecutors have reportedly issued subpoenas to Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, as well as officials in Ramsey and Hennepin counties.
Regarding charges related to the protest, a federal magistrate judge rejected prosecutors’ efforts to charge journalist Don Lemon. Lemon was among those who entered Cities Church during the protest but has stated that his presence was purely journalistic, aimed at reporting the event and interviewing involved parties including the pastor and congregants. The Justice Department’s next steps concerning Lemon are unclear, though further legal action remains possible.
Vice President Vance's visit to Minnesota occurs amid heightened tensions surrounding federal immigration enforcement, especially as state and local officials oppose the crackdown. His remarks framed the opposition to immigration enforcement as disruptive, blaming what he described as the "far left" for denying the necessity of border control.
A recent ruling by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has halted a decision that previously prohibited immigration officers from employing tear gas or pepper spray against peaceful protesters in Minnesota. Following this stay, U.S. Border Patrol official Greg Bovino was captured on video threatening the crowd and deploying riot control chemicals on a Minneapolis street.
Bovino called for better cooperation from local and state officials and attributed anti-ICE sentiments to an "influx of anarchists." He described the current environment for law enforcement in Minneapolis as unfavorable. Attempts to obtain a response from the Minneapolis Police Department regarding these comments were not immediately successful.
The unfolding situation encapsulates the complex intersection of immigration enforcement, civil rights activism, religious freedoms, and legal boundaries on protest actions within Minnesota’s ongoing political and social climate.