Controversial Activist Linked to Minnesota Church Protest
Nekima Levi Armstrong, known for her far-left activism, was involved in a recent protest at a Minnesota church opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Over the past six years, she has raised more than $1 million for a civil rights nonprofit aimed at addressing anti-poverty issues in Minneapolis.
Armstrong describes herself on her website as a civil rights attorney and “scholar-activist.” She claimed on Facebook that one of the church’s pastors has ties to ICE. This demonstration was part of a broader response in the Twin Cities to the federal government’s ramped-up immigration enforcement efforts, which have sparked widespread concern over fraud in the state.
Currently, Armstrong runs a cannabis company called Dope Roots. Previously, she served as the executive director of the nonprofit Wayfinder Foundation from 2019 to 2024, according to their tax filings.
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Wayfinder Foundation was intended to support community initiatives to combat poverty; yet, in its 2024 tax filing, it is noted that it distributed only $158,811 in grants while Armstrong drew a salary of $215,726. Additionally, she obtained around $40,548 in medical and other benefits.
In the previous year, the foundation awarded a grant of $133,698, but Armstrong’s compensation was reported as $170,726, with another $44,300 labeled as institutional and affiliated compensation. The patterns of compensation have seemingly raised eyebrows, as Armstrong earned $175,000 while only $161,325 was allocated for grants in 2022.
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Armstrong reportedly garnered $936,395 in salary over her six years with Wayfinder Foundation while the organization distributed around $700,052 in grants during her leadership. The foundation’s reported revenue was approximately $5,246,387, supported in part by the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, which donated $20,000, as well as a significant contribution of $2.34 million from the Walton Family Foundation.
The nonprofit’s website is no longer active, but remnants indicate a commitment to investing in Black women and Latinx activists through their Community Activist Fellowship program. In her communications, Armstrong emphasized the importance of investing in mothers as key figures for change in children’s lives.
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Before the recent protests, Armstrong had been a figure of contention due to her radical views, including organizing boycotts against major retailers like Target for reducing diversity initiatives.
In a post from September 26, Armstrong even expressed admiration for Joanne Chesimard, known as Assata Shakur, who was convicted of killing a state trooper, labeling her a “brave, wise, strong, and revolutionary Black woman.”
Attempts to reach Armstrong and the Wayfinder Foundation for comments were met with silence, as were inquiries directed toward both the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation regarding their involvement.
