MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — In a recent development, a well-known civil rights attorney and two others were detained following an anti-immigration enforcement protest that took place during a church service in Minnesota. The Trump administration announced these arrests on Thursday, amid a judge’s dismissal of related charges against journalist Don Lemon.
Vice President JD Vance spoke in Minneapolis, urging cooperation between state, local, and federal law enforcement, emphasizing that protesters should not obstruct these collaborations.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest of Nekima Levy Armstrong online. The protests occurred at Cities Church in St. Paul, where an ICE official serves as a pastor. Bondi revealed a second arrest, while FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed a third.
The Justice Department promptly initiated a civil rights investigation following the protest, where demonstrators chanted for “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referencing a 37-year-old woman fatally shot by an ICE officer in early October.
The attorney general declared on X, “Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP.”
Cities Church is part of the Southern Baptist Convention and lists David Easterwood, an ICE field office leader, as one of its pastors.
Church lawyers commend the detentions
Southern Baptist Convention leaders maintain that the sanctity of worship spaces should not be compromised, despite compassion for migrant families. Attorneys from True North Legal praised the arrests, with Doug Wardlow stating, “The U.S. Department of Justice acted decisively by arresting those who coordinated and carried out the terrible crime.”
Levy Armstrong, a seasoned activist, demanded the resignation of the pastor associated with ICE, citing a “fundamental moral conflict.”
She stated, “You cannot lead a congregation while directing an agency whose actions have cost lives and inflicted fear in our communities.”
Vance seeks local law enforcement support
State and local officials have voiced opposition to the Department of Homeland Security’s intensified efforts. Vance, shortly after Renee Good’s death, described her demise as a “tragedy of her own making.”
Vance warned protesters before his Minnesota visit, stating, “Those people are going to be sent to prison so long as we have the power to do so.”
During his Minneapolis address, Vance appealed for local law enforcement to aid federal immigration officers.
Greg Bovino, a U.S. Border Patrol official, criticized Minneapolis police for not assisting federal agents when surrounded by protesters, though police reported no request for aid had been made.
Protesters appear in court
Levy Armstrong, known for her leadership in protests against police-involved shootings, was among those arrested. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared an image of her arrest on X, citing charges related to threats or intimidation of rights exercisers.
Chauntyll Louisa Allen, another arrestee, faces charges for obstructing or intimidating individuals at a place of worship. Both were held in Sherburne County Jail, along with William Kelly, who defended the protest.
In court, federal magistrate judge Doug Micko granted bond to the women, imposing travel restrictions. The government plans to appeal, leaving them in custody.
Levy Armstrong’s attorney, Jordan Kushner, noted she offered to surrender peacefully, but the administration opted for a public arrest.
Marques Armstrong, her husband, described the arrest as a spectacle.
DOJ investigation follows protest
The Justice Department’s swift action on the church protest contrasted with their stance on Good’s death, which they deemed self-defense. Federal prosecutors issued subpoenas to several Minnesota officials, probing potential obstruction of immigration enforcement.
Judge dismisses charges against Lemon
Federal prosecutors’ attempt to charge Don Lemon was rejected. Lemon, present as a journalist, clarified, “Once the protest started in the church we did an act of journalism.”
Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, asserted that the judge’s decision affirmed Lemon’s First Amendment rights. The Justice Department’s next steps remain uncertain.
CNN, which parted ways with Lemon in 2023, initially reported the judge’s ruling.
