A civil rights lawyer says Trump officials couldn’t break him, so they took his photo
As It Happened6:47A civil rights lawyer says Trump officials took his photo because they couldn’t break his spirit
When Minnesota civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong heard that the White House had released a photo of her apparently crying during her arrest, she was in disbelief.
In fact, Levy Armstrong remained calm when he was arrested for protesting at a Minnesota church last month, refusing to give his detractors the satisfaction of seeing him upset.
But when the White House announced his arrest on Xit included an existing image using AI until shhis face darkened and wrinkled in pain, tears streaming down his cheeks.
“I thought, am I such a big threat to the world’s superpowers?” Levy Armstrong said As It Happened hosted by Nil Köksal
They couldn’t break me, so they changed the picture to show me broken.”
Neither the White House nor the US Department of Homeland Security responded to CBC’s request for comment. But White House deputy communications director Kaelan Dorr protect the image from Xwriting: “The enforcement of the law will continue. The memes will continue.”
‘The closest slavery I’ve ever heard’
Levy Armstrong was arrested on January 22nd connection with the protest of Jan. 18 at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., has hired a dual pastor a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.
He is among nine people, including two journalists, who were indicted Friday on charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshipers.
Despite his composure in the cell, Levy Armstrong described the entire incident as humiliating and degrading.
He says U.S. marshals attached three pairs of chains to him and fellow protesters to transport them from the federal courthouse to the county jail – one around their wrists, one around their waist and one around their stomach.
“I remember thinking, you know, this is the closest to slavery I’ve ever felt,” he said.
“Although I felt the way I described it, I remained strong, calm and focused and I was focused on my personality, even if it wasn’t. That was important to me to do it in the spirit of my ancestors.”
An ICE officer who doubles as an instructor
In the past few months, ICE has maintained a large presence in Minnesota, where it met strong resistance and well-organized protesters and the citizens who were working to protect their neighbors from the attacks of the settlers.
Since the federal government sent ICE to Minneapolis in December — against the wishes of elected law enforcement officials and municipalities — agents have killed two citizens, Renee Gooda 37-year-old mother of three, too Alex Prettian ICU nurse.
Levi Armstrong says that’s why he and others go to church where David Easterwood, head of the ICE office in St.
“They’ve been physically abusing people, dragging people out of their homes, kicking in people’s doors, going into people’s homes with big guns, arresting people arbitrarily, even American citizens, and people who are here legally,” said Levy Armstrong.
“Having someone who serves as a teacher and directs these agents is unconscionable, unacceptable, and against the Christian religion.”
The old one CNN anchor Don Lemon and freelance reporter Georgia Fort they were also arrested while broadcasting the protest, which caused an uproar in media freedom organizations and media unions.
Church, the Trump administration has stalled with arrests
Levy Armstrong says the protest was peaceful, and that he and others sat quietly and listened to church services before stopping to voice their concerns about ICE.
In a Facebook post, the church painted a different picture, accusing the protesters of harassing the congregation and creating “an incident of intimidation and threats.”
Church leaders and members of the administration of US President Donald Trump have recommended the arrest of those who accuse the protesters of violating the rights of worshippers.
“We are grateful that the Department of Justice acted quickly to protect the Cities Church so that we can continue living faithfully the work of the church to worship Jesus and make him known,” said pastor Jonathan Parnell.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appointed Levy Armstrong in particular.
“Religious freedom is the foundation of the United States,” wrote to X. “There is no first amendment right to prevent a person from practicing his religion.”
Levy Armstrong noted that TThe rump administration is making weeks unsafe in January 2025, when it happens repealed a long-standing policy prohibiting immigration raids on places of worship.
“If Kristi Noem is concerned about someone being prevented from practicing their religion, she has to answer to herself, Donald Trump and the Department of Justice,” she said.
In court filings, Levy Armstrong’s attorney presented the photo as evidence that the Trump administration had filed charges against him in retaliation for his role in the Minnesota protest.
Trump, Levy Armstrong noted, has a history of using the Justice Department to punish his opponents, launching investigations, for example, against former FBI director James Comey again New York Attorney General Letitia James.
“This is no different. I hope the judge presiding over the case will see that and understand that and make sure I get the justice I deserve,” said Levy Armstrong.
“These charges should be dropped, not only for me, but also for the other eight defendants in this case.”
