Two individuals have been arrested in connection with an anti-ICE protest that took place at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. The arrests, announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi, follow a demonstration that disrupted a church service last Sunday. The two arrested are Nekima Levy Armstrong, the organizer of the protest, and Chauntyll Louisa Allen.
During the protest, participants marched down the aisle of the church chanting slogans such as “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good.” This latter phrase references Renee Good, an anti-ICE activist who was fatally shot by an ICE agent. Armstrong specifically targeted Cities Church due to the pastor’s affiliation with ICE, demanding his resignation.
“You cannot lead a congregation while directing an agency whose actions have cost lives and inflicted fear in our communities,” Armstrong stated on Tuesday. She emphasized that when law enforcement protects armed agents and fails to conduct meaningful investigations into incidents like Good’s death, it constitutes intimidation rather than justice.
On Thursday, a federal magistrate judge rejected an attempt by the Department of Justice to charge former CNN anchor Don Lemon for his involvement in the protest. Lemon had livestreamed the incident and was present during the disruption. Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, publicly criticized Lemon’s actions, suggesting that his involvement in the protest did not fall under First Amendment protections.
Bondi expressed frustration over the decision not to charge Lemon, declaring, “WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP,” in a post on X. She indicated that further arrests related to the protest are likely.
During a recent speech in Toledo, Ohio, Vice President JD Vance applauded the arrests of Armstrong and Allen. He criticized Minnesota’s local leadership and law enforcement for not supporting federal operations. Vance argued that the chaos seen during these protests is a direct consequence of local authorities thwarting ICE’s efforts.
“When you don’t see chaos in the rest of the USA, the natural conclusion is that it’s NOT what ICE is doing in Minneapolis — it’s what Minneapolis AUTHORITIES are doing to prevent ICE from doing their jobs!” Vance asserted. He called for local authorities to enhance their support for ICE operations to ensure peace and order.
The situation continues to develop, and further investigations are expected as authorities evaluate the implications of the protest and the actions taken by those involved.
