A Minnesota civil rights attorney, Nekima Levy Armstrong, has released her own video footage of her arrest during an anti-immigration protest, following a controversial image posted by the White House that some have described as manipulated. The incident occurred on March 14, 2024, at a church where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official serves as a pastor.
On Thursday, the White House shared an image via its official X account depicting Levy Armstrong appearing upset with her hands restrained. The image was captioned, “Arrested far-left agitator Nekima Levy Armstrong for orchestrating church riots in Minnesota.” In stark contrast, a photo posted by Kristi Noem, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, showed Levy Armstrong with a neutral expression.
Levy Armstrong, alongside at least two others, was arrested for disrupting a church service in protest against ICE activities. According to a statement from her organization, the Racial Justice Network, both Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Allen, a member of the St. Paul school board, were released on March 15, 2024. Their legal representatives have not provided comments regarding the incident.
The footage recorded by Levy Armstrong’s husband, Marques Armstrong, captures the moments leading up to her arrest. In the video, she is seen requesting dignity and respect from the federal agents. “I’m asking you to please treat me with dignity and respect,” she implored. An agent responded, “We have to put you in handcuffs,” while another filmed the encounter.
Levy Armstrong questioned the necessity of the recording, to which the agent replied, “It’s not going to be on Twitter,” assuring her that it would not be made public. Throughout the more than seven-minute video, she remained composed, discussing the implications of her arrest. “You know that this is a significant abuse of power,” she stated, emphasizing her refusal to remain silent against what she termed as brutality from ICE.
In a message shared through a spokesperson with the Associated Press, Levy Armstrong claimed that the video of her arrest reveals the Trump administration’s use of artificial intelligence to alter images of the incident. “We are being politically persecuted for speaking out against authoritarianism, fascism and the tyranny of the Trump administration,” she stated during a call from jail.
As of now, the Department of Homeland Security has not issued a formal response to the unfolding situation. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and civil rights activism in the United States.
This event has drawn attention to the broader implications of political narrative and media representation in the context of protests and law enforcement interactions. The release of the video may serve as a critical counter-narrative to the official portrayal of the incident, further fueling discussions about transparency and accountability in government actions.
