A demonstration at a St. Paul church erupted Sunday, fueled by accusations against a pastor allegedly linked to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The event, organized by Nekima Levy Armstrong, a self-described civil rights lawyer and activist, saw dozens enter the building chanting slogans against ICE.
Armstrong documented the protest, labeling it “our demonstration” and declaring, “It's time for judgment to begin and it will begin in the House of God!” The action followed claims that the pastor had connections to the controversial federal agency, igniting the confrontation within the church walls.
Armstrong’s activism extends beyond this single event. She has recently spearheaded boycotts targeting Target, protesting the company’s adjustments to its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, accusing them of abandoning principles of racial progress.
A deeper look into Armstrong’s public statements reveals a past expression of admiration for Assata Shakur, a figure steeped in controversy. In a September post, Armstrong lauded Shakur as “a brave, wise, powerful, and revolutionary Black woman.”
Shakur, born Joanne Chesimard, was convicted in 1977 of the murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster. The trooper’s death left behind a wife and a young son, forever altering their lives.
The 1973 shooting on the New Jersey Turnpike resulted in a guilty verdict for Shakur on charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and other crimes, leading to a life sentence. She later escaped prison in 1979, eventually finding refuge in Cuba.
For decades, Shakur remained a fugitive, the subject of a nationwide manhunt. Both the FBI and the New Jersey attorney general offered a substantial $1 million reward for information leading to her capture, and she was ultimately placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists List.
Armstrong’s continued reverence for Shakur is evident in her pledge to continue chanting Shakur’s name at protests, accompanied by the hashtag "#AssataTaughtMe," signaling a deep ideological alignment with the convicted killer’s legacy.
Shakur’s death in Havana on September 25th marked the end of a decades-long exile, but the controversy surrounding her life and actions continues to resonate, particularly within activist circles and the ongoing debate about justice and political violence.
