Federal authorities have apprehended Nekima Levy Armstrong, a prominent activist identified as one of the key organizers of the recent protest at a Minnesota church aimed at opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The arrest was announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday, who confirmed that the operation was coordinated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI.
In a statement posted on X, Attorney General Bondi remarked, “Minutes ago at my direction, HSI and FBI agents executed an arrest in Minnesota. So far, we have arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong, who allegedly played a key role in organizing the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.” She emphasized that such actions against places of worship would not be tolerated.
Details Surrounding the Protest
Armstrong was involved in organizing a protest that disrupted Sunday services at Cities Church in St. Paul. Participants reportedly chanted slogans and accused a pastor associated with the church of having connections to ICE. This protest was part of a larger movement seen in the Twin Cities, opposing a federal crackdown on immigration that has been linked to recent widespread fraud investigations.
Background of Nekima Levy Armstrong
Nekima Levy Armstrong is described as a civil rights lawyer and “scholar-activist.” She previously led a Minneapolis-based nonprofit aimed at combating poverty, which reportedly garnered over $5.2 million in revenue over a span of six years, according to tax documents. Armstrong served as executive director of the Wayfinder Foundation from 2019 to 2024, earning a total of $936,395 in salary along with an additional $201,313 in health benefits and other forms of compensation during that period.
According to the foundation’s financial filings, it distributed approximately $700,052 in grants over the same years. In 2024 alone, the foundation awarded grants totaling $158,811 while Armstrong received a salary of $215,726 along with $40,548 in additional benefits. The organization’s grant distribution was similarly substantial in previous years, with 2023 seeing $133,698 in grants awarded as Armstrong collected $170,726 in salary and additional compensation.
Connections and Funding
Wayfinder Foundation has ties to notable donors, including Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, which made a $20,000 donation in 2023 aimed at educating and supporting Black communities. The Walton Family Foundation, associated with Walmart, contributed significantly as well, with donations amounting to $2.34 million between 2018 and 2024.
Archived pages from the foundation’s now-defunct website described initiatives like the Community Activist Fellowship program, which aimed to invest in grassroots activists striving to make systemic changes. Armstrong elaborated on the mission in communications with donors, stating, “Where others see deficiencies, lack, and want, Wayfinder sees opportunity for little revolutions that place demands on power and change systems for the better.”
Controversies and Reactions
Prior to the church incident, Armstrong had already emerged as a contentious figure, notably organizing boycotts against major retailers such as Target over perceived reductions in their diversity and equity initiatives. She has also publicly praised controversial figures, including Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, who was convicted in the 1977 murder of a New Jersey State Trooper.
Following the protest at Cities Church, its leadership denounced the actions of the demonstrators, indicating that worshippers were both harassed and forced to leave mid-service. The investigation into the events surrounding this disruption remains ongoing, according to the Justice Department.
The arrest of Armstrong marks a significant development amidst rising tensions related to immigration enforcement and protests across the nation. As authorities continue to investigate the incident, further updates regarding the case are anticipated in the coming days.