Federal agents with Homeland Security and the FBI arrested three protesters in connection with a demonstration that interrupted Sunday service at a church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Attorney General Pam Bondi said on social media Thursday.
The protesters —Nekima Levy Armstrong,Chauntyll Louisa AllenandWilliam Kelly— along with others involved in the demonstration objected to a pastor at Cities Church who they said works for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Meanwhile, a federal magistrate judge rejected a criminal complaint against journalist Don Lemon,who said he was presentat the church protest because he was reporting on it, according to a source familiar with the matter, who described Bondi as "enraged" by the decision.
Several organizers of the protest were calling for the resignation of pastorDavid Easterwood, who they say is also the acting director of an ICE field office in St. Paul. In that role, Easterwood spoke alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about ICE activity in October,according to video from KARE 11, an NBC affiliate in Minneapolis.
Noem shareda photo of Armstrong's arreston social media Thursday, saying she was being held on conspiracy charges for playing "a key role in orchestrating the Church Riots in St. Paul, Minnesota."
"Religious freedom is the bedrock of the United States — there is no First Amendment right to obstruct someone from practicing their religion," Noem said.
Jordan Kushner, Armstrong's attorney, told NBC News in a phone call Thursday afternoon that his client was "arrested for doing a peaceful nonviolent protest in a church" and that demonstrators "were engaged in an exercise of free speech."
Justice Department officials had said they were pursuing the investigation based upon the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994, which covers reproductive health services as well as places of worship under a compromise reached by legislators in the wake of several killings of abortion doctors.
Kushner said he has not yet received official documentation about what charges Armstrong is facing. She is being detained at the federal courthouse, he said.
In asocial media post, DHS said Allen "has been charged with conspiracy to deprive rights for her role in the St. Paul church riots."
Allen is aSt. Paul school board member.
NBC News has reached out to Allen for comment but did not immediately receive a response. An attorney has not been yet listed for her.
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Kelly, a who goes by the username "DaWokeFarmer" on social media, could not be reached for comment on Thursday and an attorney has not yet been listed for him.
He posteda video on TikTokabout three hours beforehis arrest Thursdaycondemning Armstrong's arrest.
"My lawyers tell me they have no f------ case," Kelly said in the video, adding that the use of the FACE Act to justify the arrests "is complete bulls---."
Kelly was among the protesters inside the church. He posted two videoson TikTok showinghis participation on Sunday.
Videos from inside the church showed dozens of demonstrators marching as they chanted "ICE out" and "David Easterwood, out now."
Ina statementTuesday, the Cities Church condemned the protest, saying demonstrators "accosted members of our congregation, frightened children, and created a scene marked by intimidation and threat."
"Such conduct is shameful, unlawful, and will not be tolerated," the church said in the statement, adding that it was "evaluating next steps with our legal counsel."
The scenes sparked intense reactions online and from Trump administration officials, prompting theDepartment of Justice to launch an investigationMonday.
In a livestream with Lemon, Armstrong said, "They cannot pretend to be a house of God while harboring someone who is directing ICE agents to wreak havoc among our community, and who killed Renee Good!"
Armstrong, who is also an ordained reverend and a civil rights attorney, told NBC News on Monday that the church invited them in, so she took it as an "opportunity for dialogue" and wanted to raise awareness with the congregation about who Easterwood is, so they could decide if they feel comfortable bringing their families to the congregation.
The arrests came after demonstrations intensified across Minnesota in the wake of Good's fatal shooting by an ICE officer on Jan. 7.
Doug Wardlow, director of litigation at True North Legal, the group providing legal representation to Cities Church, said ina statementThursday: "The arrests and the prosecutions to follow will help ensure that mob aggression like Cities Church experienced will not be repeated in any other house of worship."
