Anti-ICE activists arrested for storming St. Paul church service

"Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP," Attorney General Pam Bondi said of the arrests.

By
Hayley Feland
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Top left: William Kelly arrest; Bottom left: Chauntyll Allen arrest; Right: Nekima Levy Armstrong arrest (Kristi Noem/Department of Homeland Security)

Two Twin Cities activists were arrested Thursday morning for their role in leading a mob that disrupted a Sunday worship service at a St. Paul church.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrests of Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights attorney, activist, and former Minneapolis NAACP president, as well as Chauntyll Allen, a St. Paul Public Schools board member and Black Lives Matter Twin Cities founder.

Bondi said in a post on X that the women played key roles in organizing the “coordinated attack” on Cities Church. “Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP,” Bondi wrote.

“Our dial @CivilRights is set to FAFO. Stay tuned for more after!” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said in an X post after the arrests.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also posted about the arrests, saying, “Religious freedom is the bedrock of the United States – there is no first amendment right to obstruct someone from practicing their religion.”

Later in the day, the DOJ and Secretary Noem also announced that William Kelly had been taken into custody.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who did not appear to make any statement about the invasion of the church service, immediately responded to the news of the arrests, calling for Armstrong to be released.

“This is a gross abuse of power,” Frey wrote. “The federal government is picking and choosing who to investigate – going after protestors and not the person who shot and killed one of our neighbors.”

The Jan. 18 incident unfolded amid escalating anti-ICE protests in Minnesota following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier this month. Protesters stormed the sanctuary during services, chanting “Justice for Renee Good” and “ICE out,” forcing the congregation to abandon the gathering. Videos showed agitators surrounding churchgoers, including families with children, while screaming at parishioners.

Lead pastor Jonathan Parnell called the disruption “shameful” and “unacceptable” when accosted by ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon who was livestreaming the events.

Armstrong, who has led many previous BLM protests, including one outside the home of Liz Collin, posted on Facebook that she co-organized the action with Allen and others, declaring, “It’s time for judgment to begin in the House of God.” Allen, who was elected to the St. Paul school board in 2019, can be seen on video leading chants inside the church.

The Justice Department launched an investigation immediately after the event, with Bondi vowing to protect houses of worship. State Rep. Isaac Schultz, a Republican, has called for local charges, citing Minnesota laws against disturbing religious assemblies.

Lemon, who livestreamed the protest, defended the activists’ tactics and faced backlash for appearing embedded with the group.

Bondi hinted at additional arrests, saying, “More to come.”

A GiveSendGo has been launched by conservative commentator Benny Johnson to support Cities Church and help them with enhanced security measures and legal fees in the wake of the attack.

 

Hayley Feland

Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.

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