Three activists arrested after Cities Church protest in St. Paul
Three activists, Nekima Levy Armstrong among them, were arrested after disrupting a service at Cities Church in St. Paul; charges include FACE Act and conspiracy.
Overview
Federal agents arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen and William Kelly for their roles in last Sunday’s disruption of Cities Church in St. Paul, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on X.
Officials said charges include violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and a conspiracy-against-rights count under 18 U.S.C. 241, according to federal statements and posts by DHS officials.
Protesters entered the Southern Baptist congregation during service, chanting "ICE out" and "Justice for Renee Good" to criticize Pastor David Easterwood’s role with ICE and recent ICE-related shootings.
A federal magistrate judge declined to sign a criminal complaint charging journalist Don Lemon related to the incident; prosecutors could seek an indictment or return to a magistrate judge, officials said.
The Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation into the church disruption and has issued subpoenas to Minnesota officials over alleged obstruction of federal immigration enforcement amid a polarized political backdrop.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the coverage as skepticism of the Justice Department’s aggressive enforcement, emphasizing judicial pushback and civil‑liberties concerns. Editorial choices — highlighting the magistrate’s public‑defender background, courtroom reactions, and DOJ officials’ controversial track records — foreground critique of prosecutions; quoted anger from officials and defendants remains source content, not framing.
Sources (19)
FAQ
Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen, and William Kelly were arrested for their roles in disrupting the service at Cities Church in St. Paul.
The activists face charges including violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and conspiracy against rights under 18 U.S.C. 241.
Protesters chanted 'ICE out' and 'Justice for Renee Good' to criticize Pastor David Easterwood’s role as acting field office director for ICE in Minnesota and recent ICE-related shootings.
A federal magistrate judge declined to sign a criminal complaint charging journalist Don Lemon related to the incident, though prosecutors may seek an indictment later.
Armstrong and Allen were granted release by a magistrate judge following their hearings.
History
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