Two people have been taken into custody following a contentious anti-ICE protest that disrupted a church service in St Paul, Minnesota, according to a statement from Pam Bondi posted on social media.
Details of the Arrests and Protest
The individuals identified by the attorney general as Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen were arrested on Thursday morning. Charging documents were not immediately available, and the justice department has yet to comment on the case.
In a post on X, Bondi emphasised a zero-tolerance stance, stating, "Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP."
Background of the Church Disruption
The protest occurred at Cities church in St Paul after demonstrators alleged that one of the pastors, David Easterwood, was serving as the acting field director of the St Paul ICE office. This allegation sparked the demonstration, which has since drawn widespread outrage from conservative circles.
The Trump administration has pledged to pursue charges in response to the incident, highlighting the political tensions surrounding immigration enforcement.
Key Figures and Reactions
Among those present at the protest was former CNN anchor Don Lemon, who livestreamed the event. In an interview with Lemon, the church's pastor, Jonathan Parnell, described the disruption, noting, "Our church had gathered for worship, which we do every Sunday. We asked them to leave and they have not."
Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation, criticising Lemon during a White House press briefing. Trump called him a "loser, lightweight" and expressed sympathy for the pastor, saying, "I have such respect for that pastor. He was so calm, he was so nice. He was just accosted. What they did in that church was horrible."
The incident underscores ongoing debates over immigration policies and the boundaries of protest in the United States, with legal proceedings expected to unfold in the coming days.
