Federal officials broke a negotiated surrender agreement with activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, arresting her at a Minneapolis hotel instead of allowing her to turn herself in at a courthouse as previously arranged.
Broken Agreement Raises Questions
Armstrong had arranged through her civil rights attorney, Jordan Kusner, to surrender peacefully at the U.S. Marshals Office at the federal courthouse. U.S. Attorney Dan Rosen initially approved the plan, calling it reasonable. However, federal officials later reversed course without explanation, instead choosing to arrest Armstrong at her hotel. Kusner stated the reversal served no legitimate law enforcement or public safety purpose and deviated from standard federal surrender procedures.
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
Following the arrest, the White House posted an AI-edited image of Armstrong on social media, drawing criticism from activists who called it intimidation and political retaliation. Federal agents also confiscated cell phones from Armstrong and another individual, with neither device returned despite repeated FBI attempts to access them.
Journalists Arrested During Coverage
Two Black journalists, Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, were arrested while covering protests related to the case. The arrests occurred as they documented activists calling for the resignation of David Eastergood, the St. Paul ICE Field Office director who also serves as pastor of Cities Church. Armstrong criticized the Minneapolis press corps during a Thursday news conference, accusing some outlets of repeating Trump administration narratives without proper scrutiny.
Church rioter Nekima Levy Armstrong: "We had handcuffs on. As an African American Studies expert, it was the closest I was to sIavery!" pic.twitter.com/1SaJI8rUwT
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 29, 2026
Fatal Shootings Lack Investigation Leadership
Activists highlighted the contrast between aggressive federal enforcement against protesters and the lack of accountability surrounding two fatal ICE-related shootings. No law enforcement agency has publicly identified itself as leading the investigation into the January 7 killing of Renee Good, despite video evidence and eyewitnesses. Officers involved in the killing of Alex Pretti were removed from Minnesota and remain unidentified. Armstrong noted that protesters face jail and shackles while officers involved in fatal shootings remain unnamed and protected, often operating while masked.
This is a very biased “news” article. Journalists were not arrested “covering the protest.” They were arrested for “being a part of the protest.” How did the journalists know when and where to be, unless they were there to provide instant media? Biased. Total hogwash. What would someone do if the roles were reversed, and people protested during a MLK Jr service? Let’s be honest. There is NO place for trespassing inside houses of worship. Zero. Nada. Zip.
True but these are all liberal Dems, they are different from everyone else, THEY get special treatment like all the elites-Clintons-Obama’s etc. If not then it is racism and they must be free.
MLK is turning over in his grave with these antic. All who broke into that church service should be tried and sentenced per the law.