A Minnesota activist and civil rights attorney, Nekima Levy Armstrong, has released a video of her arrest during an anti-immigration protest following a controversial social media post by the White House. The incident occurred on March 7, 2024, when Armstrong and at least two others were arrested for disrupting a service at a church where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official serves as pastor.
The White House shared a manipulated image on its social media platform, X, depicting Armstrong in distress as she was taken into custody. The post included the caption: “Arrested far-left agitator Nekima Levy Armstrong for orchestrating church riots in Minnesota.” In contrast, Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, also posted the same image but with a neutral expression on Armstrong’s face.
Following her arrest, Levy Armstrong released a video filmed by her husband, Marques Armstrong. The footage shows several federal agents approaching her for arrest. In the video, she is heard asking to be treated with “dignity and respect,” while one agent informs her that they must place her in handcuffs. Levy Armstrong questioned the agent recording the encounter, stating, “Why are you recording?” The agent replied, “It’s not going to be on Twitter… We don’t want to create a false narrative.”
During the more than seven-minute video, Levy Armstrong did not appear to cry as suggested by the White House post. Instead, she engaged with the agents, stating, “You know that this is a significant abuse of power… because I refuse to be silent in the face of brutality from ICE.”
Both Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Allen, a member of the St. Paul school board arrested alongside her, were released the following day, March 8, 2024, according to a statement from the Racial Justice Network, an organization founded by Levy Armstrong. Their attorneys have not provided any comments regarding the incident.
In a message shared with the Associated Press, Levy Armstrong expressed her belief that the manipulation of images by the Trump administration was a form of political persecution. “We are being politically persecuted for speaking out against authoritarianism, fascism and the tyranny of the Trump administration,” she stated during a phone call with her husband from jail.
As of now, the Department of Homeland Security has not responded to requests for comments regarding the incident or the White House’s social media post. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between activists and federal authorities, particularly concerning immigration issues in the United States.
The release of Levy Armstrong’s video has sparked discussion about the portrayal of protests and the narratives surrounding them. The manipulation of images raises questions about the ethical implications of how such events are documented and communicated to the public.
