In an announcement on X, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest of Minnesota civil-rights lawyer Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen, and William Kelly on Thursday after leading a now viral protest inside of Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The group was taken into custody on Thursday after they, along with several other demonstrators, entered the church and staged a protest days earlier. This particular church was singled out after a pastor was alleged to work for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Federal authorities claim the protest crossed legal lines by disrupting worship and violating a federal law that bars such behavior in houses of worship.

The arrests come in the midst of heightened tension between local leaders, residents, and ICE agents, which surged after the fatal shooting of Renee Good earlier this month. Chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” activists inside the church sought to highlight what they deemed a moral conflict in the pastor’s dual role.

Federal officials said Armstrong played a “key role” in organizing the action, and FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed charges under a 1994 law that prohibits physically blocking access to places of worship. 

The incident also drew scrutiny over how the story has been shared. A fact-check by AP News shows the official White House account posted a digitally altered photo of Armstrong appearing to cry during her arrest; the original image showed her expression as calm, her attorney said.

The same incident also targeted independent journalist and former CNN anchor Don Lemon, who livestreamed the event as it unfolded and interviewed booth protestors and parishioners. Lemon was then accused of leading the protest by the DOJ. Soon after, the efforts to charge him were thwarted after a Minnesota magistrate judge rejected the bill.