Federal authorities have arrested multiple individuals following a disruptive and highly charged protest that spilled into a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday. The arrests come after dozens of anti-ICE activists stormed a Sunday service at Cities Church, prompting condemnation from federal law enforcement officials and renewed debate over the limits of political protest.
According to Bondi, three individuals—Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen, and William Kelly—were taken into custody in connection with the incident. The arrests were carried out by agents from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that Armstrong was arrested for allegedly violating the FACE Act, a federal statute that prohibits interference with religious worship at places of faith. Armstrong is expected to appear before Douglas Micko later Thursday.
Allen, a sitting member of the St. Paul School Board, was charged with conspiracy to deprive rights, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Authorities allege she played an organizing role in the coordinated protest that disrupted the church service.
William Kelly’s arrest followed days of public defiance. After daring the Department of Justice to take action against him, Kelly was arrested for allegedly storming the church, shouting at congregants, and berating worshippers during the service. Video footage posted online shows activists yelling inside the sanctuary, with children present at the time.
“Minutes ago at my direction, HSI and FBI agents executed an arrest in Minnesota,” Bondi wrote on X. “So far, we have arrested Nekima Levy Armstrong, who allegedly played a key role in organizing the coordinated attack on Cities Church.” She later confirmed Allen’s arrest and emphasized a zero-tolerance stance on religious intimidation. “Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP,” Bondi said.
Armstrong, who describes herself as a civil rights attorney and “scholar-activist,” has continued to publicly target individuals connected to the church. Earlier this week, she accused one of the church’s pastors of having a conflict of interest due to alleged ties to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a claim that fueled the protest.
The demonstration was part of a broader wave of activism in the Twin Cities opposing increased federal immigration enforcement amid investigations into large-scale fraud in Minnesota. Armstrong has also been a prominent organizer of boycotts against Target following the company’s decision to scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from federal officials, who argue that political dissent does not justify disrupting religious services. As the cases proceed, the arrests are likely to intensify national discussions around protest boundaries, religious freedom, and the enforcement of federal civil rights laws.