Federal agents arrested self-proclaimed “civil rights activist” Nekima Levy Armstrong on Thursday morning for her role in leading a group that stormed a Minnesota church service earlier this week. The move came as part of a broader push to safeguard religious gatherings from targeted disruptions.
The incident unfolded on January 18 at Cities Church in St. Paul, where dozens of anti-ICE protesters burst through the doors during worship. They encircled attendees, shouted demands for “Justice for Renee Good,” and accused one of the pastors, David Easterwood, of conflicting loyalties due to his position as acting director of ICE’s local enforcement office. Video footage showed the chaos, with children visibly frightened and the service grinding to a halt.
Armstrong, a former NAACP leader in Minneapolis and head of the Racial Justice Network, posted about the event on social media, calling it a “demonstration” and naming participants. Her past includes drawing over $1 million in compensation from a nonprofit focused on anti-poverty efforts, as well as praise for Assata Shakur, who fled to Cuba after a conviction for murdering a police officer. Such connections paint a picture of someone deeply embedded in radical activism.
The protest tied into ongoing tensions over President Trump’s immigration surge in Minnesota, dubbed Operation Metro Surge. Federal officials have detained more than 3,000 individuals accused of immigration fraud since early January, aiming to restore order in a state plagued by such issues.
Renee Good, the 37-year-old trained anti-ICE protester referenced in the chants, died in a January shooting involving ICE agent Jonathan Ross. She hit Ross with her vehicle in what Attorney General Pam Bondi labeled as domestic terrorism.
Church leaders condemned the invasion outright. Pastor Jonathan Parnell issued a statement declaring, “Invading a church service to disrupt the worship of Jesus — or any other act of worship — is protected by neither the Christian Scriptures nor the laws of this nation.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled the intruders “agitators” on X and warned of impending arrests.
Bondi broke the news of Armstrong’s arrest on X: “Minutes ago at my direction, HSI and FBI agents executed an arrest in Minnesota. So far, we have arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong, who allegedly played a key role in organizing the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. We will share more updates as they become available. Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP.”
The charges likely involve violations of the FACE Act, which shields religious sites from intimidation, much like it does clinics.
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon joined the fray, livestreaming the event and defending the tactics as necessary to make people “uncomfortable.” His involvement, alongside Armstrong’s planning, suggests a possible orchestrated effort to amplify discord, perhaps fueled by media figures eager to stoke opposition to border security measures. Questions linger about whether this fits into a pattern of left-wing groups testing boundaries, especially in blue states resisting federal immigration actions.
For believers, the assault strikes at the heart of sacred assembly. Scriptures like 1 Corinthians 14:40 urge that “all things should be done decently and in order,” a principle trampled here amid political rage. As investigations continue, with more arrests expected, this case serves as a reminder that faith communities deserve protection from those who would weaponize protest against the faithful.
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