In a significant operation led by Homeland Security Investigations and FBI agents, Nekima Levy Armstrong, a renowned civil rights attorney, and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, a local school board member, were taken into custody on charges related to disrupting a religious service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday.
The arrests occurred following a protest last Sunday, during which demonstrators entered the church, chanted political slogans, and engaged with congregants in what witnesses describe as an intimidating manner. The voices of children crying and the distressed reactions of attendees marked the incident, compelling church leaders to evacuate the sanctuary.
Attorney General Bondi, through a social media post, underlined the federal government's zero-tolerance policy towards attacks on places of worship, reinforcing the commitment to protect religious freedoms and constitutional rights. The Justice Department, according to Bondi, stands firm in safeguarding religious institutions.
Armstrong, with a history of leadership in the Minneapolis NAACP and as the former executive director of the Wayfinder Foundation, is accused of leading the protest, labeled "Operation Pull Up." She defended the disruption as a direct action against organizations allegedly linked to federal immigration enforcement during an interview with ex-CNN host Don Lemon.
Allen, who has served on the St. Paul School Board since 2020 and is associated with Black Lives Matter Twin Cities, faces similar allegations. Her roles in the school board's Afrocentric School/Program Work Group and the Sustainability and Equity Committees spotlight her commitment to addressing racial and systemic inequities.
Both women are charged under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which criminalizes the obstruction or intimidation of individuals exercising their First Amendment rights in places of worship. Their actions at Cities Church have led to this federal response.
Public records reveal that Armstrong received significant compensation from the Wayfinder Foundation, which received funding from the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation. The foundation has been known for its role in empowering community activists and confronting systemic issues.
This protest has garnered national attention, as Armstrong is no stranger to the limelight, having organized corporate boycotts and supported controversial social justice figures. Her tactics of direct action to challenge perceived injustices are consistent with her past activism.
The Department of Justice has yet to disclose full details of the potential charges beyond those relating to the FACE Act. Armstrong and Allen are expected to face the legal process in federal court shortly. The case underscores the delicate balance between civil activism and the constitutional rights of worshippers, sparking debate among legal experts, critics, and supporters of the demonstration.
As federal authorities continue their investigation into the Cities Church incident, they emphasize the importance of enforcing the law while protecting religious freedoms. The outcomes of the legal proceedings involving Armstrong and Allen may well set precedents for how future protests targeting religious institutions are handled.
