Justice Department announces multiple arrests in St. Paul’s Church protest
AG Pam Bondi said federal agents have arrested three people involved in a protest that disrupted Sunday services at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The Trump administration shared on social media an apparently digitally altered photo of one of the people arrested in connection with recent protests at a church in Minnesota.
The image, posted on January 22 to the White House’s official account
Less than an hour later, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s X account posted a nearly identical photo of Armstrong, but with her mouth closed, no tears on her face, and a much calmer expression.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed on social media that Armstrong was in the custody of federal agents. In addition to Armstrong, Bondi announced the arrest of two other people for their involvement in a Jan. 18 protest that disrupted Sunday services at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
On January 22nd, White House Deputy Director of Communications Kaylan Dole appeared to admit that the photo had been altered in a post on X’s official account.
“To those who feel the need to reflexively defend the perpetrators of heinous crimes in our country, I say it again: Law enforcement continues. Memes continue,” Doe wrote.
The White House did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for additional comment.
Who is Nekima Levi Armstrong?
Mr. Armstrong, 49, is an American civil rights lawyer based in Minneapolis and St. Louis. pole area. She is a former president of the Minneapolis NAACP and ran an unsuccessful campaign for mayor of Minneapolis in 2017, according to her website.
Who was arrested during the St. Paul’s Church protest?
In addition to Armstrong, authorities also arrested Chauntill Louisa Allen, a member of the St. Paul Public Schools Board. Anti-ICE activist and military veteran William Kelly was also arrested, Bondi said.
Noem said the three people arrested were charged with conspiracy to deprive people of rights in connection with the demonstration at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, saying they helped organize the protests.
On Sunday, January 18, a group of protesters entered the church and claimed to be the Rev. David Easterwood, the acting director of ICE’s St. Paul field office. The protest was held less than two weeks after Renee Good, a 37-year-old American woman, was shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis on January 7th.
The arrests came after the Justice Department announced it was investigating the protests for possible violations of the FACE Act, which protects access to religious services under the First Amendment.
Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund.
