A protest inside a historic church in St. Paul, Minnesota, has now turned into a federal case drawing national attention.
On January 22, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that civil rights attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong was arrested by FBI and Homeland Security agents. Authorities say she played a “key role” in organizing a demonstration that entered Cities Church during Sunday service on January 18, interrupting worship and prompting some attendees to leave.
The protest was aimed at Pastor David Eastwood, whom demonstrators identified as the acting field director of the local ICE office. Video from the scene shows a group of protesters walking through the church aisles chanting phrases like “ICE out” and “David Eastwood out now.”
Federal officials are calling the incident a serious violation involving a place of worship. Bondi described it as a “coordinated attack,” adding that such actions would not be tolerated. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that charges are being filed under the federal FACE Act, a law traditionally used to protect abortion clinics, but now being applied to religious venues as well.
This morning FBI and partners @HSI_HQ executed an arrest of Nekima Levy Armstrong - one of the individuals who allegedly organized the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota this last weekend - on a violation of the FACE Act.
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) January 22, 2026
More updates to come. @AGPamBondi…
Why This Protest Happened
Tensions in Minnesota have been high following the January 7 shooting of ICE agent Renée Good in Minneapolis. In the days after, federal law enforcement presence across the state increased significantly, triggering demonstrations and backlash from immigrant rights groups and activists.
From what I’ve been following, this protest appears to be part of that wider reaction aimed directly at a figure protesters associate with local immigration enforcement while also serving as a church leader.
Armstrong defended the action before her arrest, saying the protest aligned with Christian values of compassion. She argued that someone serving as both a pastor and a leader in ICE enforcement creates a moral conflict.
Who Is Nekima Levy Armstrong?
Nekima Levy Armstrong is not a new name in civil rights circles.
She is a former president of the Minneapolis NAACP, founder of the Racial Justice Network, a civil rights attorney, and a law professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. She was also a visible figure during protests following the deaths of George Floyd, Jamar Clark, and Philando Castile.
Over the past decade, she has built a reputation as one of Minnesota’s most outspoken voices on racial justice and policing issues. She even ran for Minneapolis mayor in 2017.
What Happens Next
As of now, formal court proceedings and exact charges will determine how this case unfolds. Legal experts are already debating how the FACE Act will be interpreted in this context and whether this sets a new precedent for protests held inside religious spaces.
I’ll be watching closely as more details come out, especially once official court filings become public.
This story is developing quickly, and it’s likely to remain in the spotlight as both legal and political reactions continue to build.
