Summary (tl;dr)

Three activists, Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen, and William Kelly, have been arrested in Minnesota in connection with their roles in disrupting a church service in St. Paul to protest immigration policies and a pastor's alleged ties to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Essential Background

The arrests stem from a January 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where activists interrupted a worship service. The demonstration was organized by civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, St. Paul school board member Chauntyll Louisa Allen, and activist William Kelly. The protestors targeted the church due to allegations that one of its pastors, David Easterwood, serves as an acting director for a local ICE field office. Activists also highlighted the recent death of Renee Good, reportedly killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, and a broader "immigration crackdown" in Minnesota.

The Full Story

On Thursday, January 22, federal officials announced the arrests of Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen, and William Kelly for their involvement in the Cities Church protest. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the arrests on social media, stating that Levy Armstrong played a "key role in organizing" the interruption and that "we do not tolerate attacks on places of worship." Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also tweeted about Levy Armstrong's arrest, saying she was charged with violating Section 241 of Title 18 of the U.S. Criminal Code, known as "conspiracy against rights," and the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which protects access to houses of worship. Levy Armstrong and Allen were reportedly arrested at the Aloft Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. William Kelly, who livestreamed the protest and had previously dared authorities to arrest him, was also taken into custody.

Why It Matters

These arrests highlight a significant legal and political clash concerning the boundaries of protest and religious freedom. The use of the federal FACE Act, typically associated with protecting access to abortion clinics, to prosecute protesters at a house of worship signifies a strong stance by the Trump administration against such demonstrations. Critics of the arrests, including supporters who gathered outside the federal courthouse, argue it is an overreach and an attempt to silence activists raising concerns about immigration policies and the actions of ICE. The situation has drawn attention to the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and the role of religious institutions in such matters.

Geographic Location

• Cities Church, St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States (site of anti-ICE protest)
• Aloft Hotel, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States (arrest location of Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen)
• Minnesota, United States (arrest of William Kelly)
• Federal Courthouse, St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States (gathering of supporters)