Protesters disrupted services at City Church of St. Paul on Sunday, chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Goode.” The St. Paul Pioneer Press quoted Levi Armstrong as saying, “When you think about the federal government deploying barbaric ICE agents on our community and all the damage they have done, it is almost unimaginable to me to have someone serving as a pastor overseeing these ICE agents.”
The church’s website lists David Easterwood as one of its pastors. Protesters said he is the same David Easterwood who is listed as a defendant in the lawsuit filed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison against Noem and other federal officials. The lawsuit lists Easterwood as a defendant “in his official capacity as Acting Director, St. Paul Field Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
Levi Armstrong, who is also the former president of the Minneapolis branch of the NAACP, was arrested yesterday morning. Announcing the arrest, Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote, “We do not tolerate attacks on places of worship.” Bondi alleged that Levi Armstrong “played a key role in organizing the coordinated attack on the City Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.”
multiple arrests
Noem said Levi Armstrong “has been charged with a federal crime under 18 USC 241,” which prohibits “conspiracy.”[ing] Injuring, harassing, threatening, or intimidating any person in any state, territory, commonwealth, possession, or district, in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
Noem wrote, “Religious freedom is the bedrock of the United States of America – there is no First Amendment right to prevent someone from practicing their religion.”
St. Paul School Board member Chauntille Allen was also arrested. Lawyers for Cities Church issued statements supporting the arrests and saying they were “exploring all legal options to protect the church and prevent further attacks.”
A federal magistrate judge initially ruled that Levi Armstrong and Allen could be released, but they were still held in custody last night after the government “filed a motion to stay the release pending further review, claiming they may be a flight risk,” the Pioneer Press wrote.
<a href