On Sunday, members from groups like the Racial Justice Network, Black Lives Matter Minnesota, and BLM Twin Cities gathered in St. Paul, Minnesota, to stage an event dubbed “ICE Out Action.” This gathering escalated into an attack on a Christian church.
Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that, at her instruction, agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI arrested Nekima Levi Armstrong, who is the founder of the Racial Justice Network and a former president of the NAACP’s Minneapolis chapter. The arrests seem to be linked to the chaotic events that took place.
Bondi indicated that Chauntill Louisa Allen, a prominent figure in BLM Twin Cities who has been on the St. Paul School Board since 2020, was also taken into custody.
“Hear us loud and clear: Attacks on places of worship will not be tolerated,” Bondi stated emphatically.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the arrests of both Armstrong and Allen, who are suspected of breaching laws related to the freedom of access to clinics.
Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, mentioned that following the extreme disruptions at Cities Church—reported to have ties to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement—her office is looking into potential violations of the FACE Act. This act prohibits acts that desecrate houses of worship and disrupt worshippers.
Dhillon indicated there might be multiple federal offenses observed during the incident. While she didn’t want to jump to conclusions, she suggested there would be charges forthcoming.
The law explicitly protects individuals making use of their First Amendment right to religious freedom in places of worship, and violations can lead to civil lawsuits, hefty fines, or even imprisonment.
Footage from the church attack depicted a group led by Armstrong blocking the altar and demanding responses from parishioners regarding their views on ICE. Some church members appeared noticeably shaken, offering each other comfort amid the chaos as they were berated by the activists.
In one video from the scene, Armstrong accused the church leadership of hypocrisy, suggesting that their ties to ICE were abhorrent. She referenced the recent shooting of a Venezuelan man by ICE, asserting it exemplified the kind of violence the community faces.
The incident has drawn national attention, with White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt emphasizing, “President Trump will not stand for intimidation or harassment against Christians in their sacred places.” A thorough investigation by the Department of Justice is now underway.
As the situation develops, Bondi hinted that further arrests might occur in connection with this outbreak of hostility at the church.
