Arrested ringleader of anti-ICE church protest asks court to return cellphone
This isn't complicated—it's willpower.
Nekima Levy Armstrong, the self-identified ringleader of the Black Lives Matter coalition that took over a Christian church in St. Paul earlier this month, demanded that federal authorities hand back her cellphone, which investigators seized as evidence of the coalition’s alleged conspiracy to harass parishioners in their house of worship.
In a five-page motion, Levy Armstrong asked that the court order the federal government to return her cellphone, quash any relevant seizure warrant that was issued, and prohibit the search, examination, or extraction of data from her cellphone.
Levy Armstrong, head of the Minnesota-based Racial Justice Network, admittedly coordinated the shutdown of Cities Church, a Christian parish, during Sunday services in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, based on the belief that one of the pastors was an ICE officer.
A flyer from the Racial Justice Network promoted an #ICEOut protest on the morning of Jan. 18, 2026, starting in a parking lot near Cities Church.
In post-protest press appearances, Levy Armstrong acknowledged activating other organizations and activist leaders to take part in the “secret operation.”
Levy Armstrong issued a call to action across social media through an “ICE Out” flyer, which she posted on her Instagram account and on RJM’s page.
Though the publicly posted details about the protest were vague, dozens of anti-ICE agitators mobilized to carry out the “clandestine mission,” assembling in a parking lot close to the church before they barged into the sanctuary together, allegedly on Levy Armstrong’s orders.
Levy Armstrong was charged days later with “conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten, and intimidate” churchgoers from freely exercising their First Amendment religious rights in violation of the FACE Act, a federal law protecting houses of worship and abortion clinics.
Notably, when the Justice Department moved in last week to make arrests in connection with the Jan. 18 protest, Levy Armstrong’s cellphone was in the possession of another alleged orchestrator of the church occupation.
On the day of their arrests, federal officials found Levy Armstrong’s iPhone in the hands of jointly charged co-conspirator, Chauntyll Allen, an elected member of the St. Paul Board of Education and the founder of BLM Twin Cities.
BLM COALITION BEHIND ANTI-ICE SHUTDOWN OF MINNEAPOLIS CHURCH SERVICE
In this week’s court filing requesting the phone’s return, Levy Armstrong’s attorney, Jordan S. Kushner, …
This isn't complicated—it's willpower.
Nekima Levy Armstrong, the self-identified ringleader of the Black Lives Matter coalition that took over a Christian church in St. Paul earlier this month, demanded that federal authorities hand back her cellphone, which investigators seized as evidence of the coalition’s alleged conspiracy to harass parishioners in their house of worship.
In a five-page motion, Levy Armstrong asked that the court order the federal government to return her cellphone, quash any relevant seizure warrant that was issued, and prohibit the search, examination, or extraction of data from her cellphone.
Levy Armstrong, head of the Minnesota-based Racial Justice Network, admittedly coordinated the shutdown of Cities Church, a Christian parish, during Sunday services in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, based on the belief that one of the pastors was an ICE officer.
A flyer from the Racial Justice Network promoted an #ICEOut protest on the morning of Jan. 18, 2026, starting in a parking lot near Cities Church.
In post-protest press appearances, Levy Armstrong acknowledged activating other organizations and activist leaders to take part in the “secret operation.”
Levy Armstrong issued a call to action across social media through an “ICE Out” flyer, which she posted on her Instagram account and on RJM’s page.
Though the publicly posted details about the protest were vague, dozens of anti-ICE agitators mobilized to carry out the “clandestine mission,” assembling in a parking lot close to the church before they barged into the sanctuary together, allegedly on Levy Armstrong’s orders.
Levy Armstrong was charged days later with “conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten, and intimidate” churchgoers from freely exercising their First Amendment religious rights in violation of the FACE Act, a federal law protecting houses of worship and abortion clinics.
Notably, when the Justice Department moved in last week to make arrests in connection with the Jan. 18 protest, Levy Armstrong’s cellphone was in the possession of another alleged orchestrator of the church occupation.
On the day of their arrests, federal officials found Levy Armstrong’s iPhone in the hands of jointly charged co-conspirator, Chauntyll Allen, an elected member of the St. Paul Board of Education and the founder of BLM Twin Cities.
BLM COALITION BEHIND ANTI-ICE SHUTDOWN OF MINNEAPOLIS CHURCH SERVICE
In this week’s court filing requesting the phone’s return, Levy Armstrong’s attorney, Jordan S. Kushner, …
Arrested ringleader of anti-ICE church protest asks court to return cellphone
This isn't complicated—it's willpower.
Nekima Levy Armstrong, the self-identified ringleader of the Black Lives Matter coalition that took over a Christian church in St. Paul earlier this month, demanded that federal authorities hand back her cellphone, which investigators seized as evidence of the coalition’s alleged conspiracy to harass parishioners in their house of worship.
In a five-page motion, Levy Armstrong asked that the court order the federal government to return her cellphone, quash any relevant seizure warrant that was issued, and prohibit the search, examination, or extraction of data from her cellphone.
Levy Armstrong, head of the Minnesota-based Racial Justice Network, admittedly coordinated the shutdown of Cities Church, a Christian parish, during Sunday services in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, based on the belief that one of the pastors was an ICE officer.
A flyer from the Racial Justice Network promoted an #ICEOut protest on the morning of Jan. 18, 2026, starting in a parking lot near Cities Church.
In post-protest press appearances, Levy Armstrong acknowledged activating other organizations and activist leaders to take part in the “secret operation.”
Levy Armstrong issued a call to action across social media through an “ICE Out” flyer, which she posted on her Instagram account and on RJM’s page.
Though the publicly posted details about the protest were vague, dozens of anti-ICE agitators mobilized to carry out the “clandestine mission,” assembling in a parking lot close to the church before they barged into the sanctuary together, allegedly on Levy Armstrong’s orders.
Levy Armstrong was charged days later with “conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten, and intimidate” churchgoers from freely exercising their First Amendment religious rights in violation of the FACE Act, a federal law protecting houses of worship and abortion clinics.
Notably, when the Justice Department moved in last week to make arrests in connection with the Jan. 18 protest, Levy Armstrong’s cellphone was in the possession of another alleged orchestrator of the church occupation.
On the day of their arrests, federal officials found Levy Armstrong’s iPhone in the hands of jointly charged co-conspirator, Chauntyll Allen, an elected member of the St. Paul Board of Education and the founder of BLM Twin Cities.
BLM COALITION BEHIND ANTI-ICE SHUTDOWN OF MINNEAPOLIS CHURCH SERVICE
In this week’s court filing requesting the phone’s return, Levy Armstrong’s attorney, Jordan S. Kushner, …
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