A national watchdog group filed a formal complaint with Minnesota’s Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility against civil rights attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, who was arrested this week for leading a disruption inside a St. Paul church.
The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA) confirmed exclusively to Alpha News that it submitted a bar complaint accusing Levy Armstrong of violating professional ethics rules after she helped lead a mob of anti-ICE activists into Cities Church during a worship service on Jan. 18.
“This past Sunday, Nekima Valdez Levy Armstrong led a mob of angry protesters into Cities Church in St. Paul and obstructed the worship of many churchgoers inside,” said Curtis Schube, director of research and policy for CASA. “She was asked to leave and did not leave, potentially making her liable for multiple federal crimes.”
Homeland Security Investigators and FBI agents arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong who played a key role in orchestrating the Church Riots in St. Paul, Minnesota.
She is being charged with a federal crime under 18 USC 241.
Religious freedom is the bedrock of the United States -… pic.twitter.com/O9yp4nRio1
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) January 22, 2026
The incident drew national attention and prompted a federal investigation after video surfaced showing congregants, including children, being confronted and shouted at during the service.
On Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrests of Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Allen, a St. Paul Public Schools board member and Black Lives Matter Twin Cities founder. The Department of Justice also announced that William Kelly had been taken into custody.
NEW: Mugshots for Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Allen and William Kelly pic.twitter.com/3MeL50AkfR
— Anthony Gockowski (@AntGockowski) January 23, 2026
Video shows disruption of worship service
According to CASA, Levy Armstrong led a group of protesters into the church during an active service, shouting at congregants and confronting church leadership while services were underway.
Video footage shows Levy Armstrong inside the church holding a microphone and shouting accusations at church leaders, alleging ties to ICE.
🚨BREAKING: Social justice activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, in a Facebook post, accused the pastor of Cities Church of being an Acting Field Director for the ICE office and expressed gratitude to the activists who joined her in storming the church this morning. She wrote:
“Thank… pic.twitter.com/lreQEk29io
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) January 19, 2026
In one clip, Levy Armstrong is heard saying the group intentionally targets locations where their presence will be disruptive.
“This is a clandestine operation,” Levy Armstrong said to former CNN journalist Don Lemon in a video. “We show up somewhere that is a key location. They don’t expect us to come there. And then we disrupt business as usual. So, that’s what we’re about to go do right now.”
The group then stormed the sanctuary where children can be seen during the disruption, and multiple families are shown leaving the service visibly shaken.
Levy Armstrong later posted about the incident on social media, thanking activists who participated and accusing one of the church’s pastors of having ties to ICE. That pastor was not present during the service.
CASA alleges violations of professional conduct
In its complaint, CASA argues that Levy Armstrong’s actions may violate both federal law and Minnesota’s Rules of Professional Conduct, which govern attorney behavior.
The filing cites Rule 8.4 of the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct, which prohibits conduct involving harassment or criminal activity that reflects adversely on a lawyer’s fitness to practice law.
Federal law also prohibits intentionally interfering with religious worship through intimidation or physical obstruction. In announcing Levy Armstrong’s arrest, federal officials referenced 18 U.S. Code § 241, which applies to situations in which “two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States.”
CASA further argues that Levy Armstrong’s decision to identify herself as an attorney during the incident undermines any claim that her conduct was unrelated to her professional role, and is urging the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility to open a formal investigation.
“Protesting, under the Constitution, is not about disrupting places of worship and traumatizing families who worship there. Federal law makes that clear. Levy Armstrong must be investigated and disciplined for her unlawful actions,” the complaint says.
Schube said he is happy to see that the DOJ is probing this activity and hopes the Minnesota Bar will initiate an investigation as well.
“This conduct is potentially in violation of the law, the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct, and is beneath the legal profession,” he said. “We hope the Minnesota Bar will immediately investigate.”
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
