Activist Releases Video of Arrest Following Controversial White House Image

A Minnesota activist and civil rights attorney, Nekima Levy Armstrong, has released her own video of her arrest during an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protest. This action follows the posting of a manipulated image by the White House, which depicted her in a misleading manner. The incident occurred on March 15, 2024, at a church where an ICE official serves as pastor.

The White House shared an image on its X account showing Levy Armstrong appearing distressed, captioned in all capital letters: “Arrested far-left agitator Nekima Levy Armstrong for orchestrating church riots in Minnesota.” In contrast, a separate post from Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, featured the same image but with Levy Armstrong displaying a neutral expression.

Levy Armstrong’s arrest was part of a protest that disrupted a church service, leading to her detention alongside at least two others. On March 16, her organization, the Racial Justice Network, confirmed that both Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Allen, a member of the St. Paul school board, were released.

The video, recorded by Levy Armstrong’s husband, Marques Armstrong, captures the moments leading up to her arrest. In the footage, she requests to be treated with “dignity and respect” as federal agents approach her. One agent informs her, “We have to put you in handcuffs,” while another records the encounter.

Levy Armstrong questions the recording, saying, “Why are you recording?” to which the agent responds, “It’s not going to be on Twitter.” Throughout the video, which lasts over seven minutes, she remains composed, stating, “You know that this is a significant abuse of power, because I refuse to be silent in the face of brutality from ICE.”

In a subsequent audio message shared with the Associated Press, Levy Armstrong accused the Trump administration of using artificial intelligence to manipulate images of her arrest. She stated, “We are being politically persecuted for speaking out against authoritarianism, fascism, and the tyranny of the Trump administration.”

As of now, the Department of Homeland Security has not provided a comment regarding the incident or the claims made by Levy Armstrong.

This arrest and the ensuing controversy highlight ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States, particularly in relation to protests that challenge government policies. The incident raises questions about the portrayal of such events in the media and the implications of manipulated images in political discourse.

The case has garnered attention not only for its immediate impact on those involved but also for its broader implications on civil rights and the treatment of activists in the current political climate.