The organizer of last weekend’s storming of a a St. Paul church made a higher salary from her “anti-poverty” non-profit than what they actually distributed in grants to the poor, Fox News has learned. Over six years, she raked in over $1 million, far more than what they actually gave to the people they pretended to help.
Protesters burst into Cities Church in St. Paul during Sunday services on January 18, chanting slogans and halting the congregation’s worship. The group targeted Pastor David Easterwood, claiming was also acting field office director for ICE.
Video footage captured the chaos, with activists shouting “ICE out” and demanding accountability for what they called federal overreach in local communities. One organizer, Nekima Levy Armstrong, later defended the action, saying, “If people are more concerned about someone coming to a church on a Sunday and disrupting business as usual than they are about the atrocities that we are experiencing in our community, then they need to check their theology and check their hearts.”
Armstrong, a civil rights attorney and self-described ordained reverend, has positioned herself as a leader in racial justice efforts. She founded the Racial Justice Network and has been vocal in campaigns against law enforcement practices. In this case, the protest tied into broader unrest over ICE’s surge in Minnesota to combat fraud, including a recent fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by an ICE agent. DHS
Secretary Kristi Noem labeled that incident an “act of domestic terrorism,” noting Good had harassed and attempted to run over officers after blocking their vehicle. Armstrong’s group argued Easterwood’s dual roles enabled “barbaric” tactics, but church leaders condemned the intrusion as “shameful,” insisting the space was for worshiping Jesus, not political theater.
Federal authorities moved quickly. The Department of Justice announced an investigation into the protesters for potential violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and the Ku Klux Klan Act, which prohibit interference with religious exercise through force or intimidation. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon emphasized that houses of worship are protected from such disruptions, warning that the full force of the government would address this.
Protesters, including Armstrong, dismissed the probe as a distraction from ICE’s actions, but legal experts pointed out the irony: invading a church to protest alleged hypocrisy while trampling on others’ rights to gather in faith.
Beyond the immediate fallout, Armstrong’s financial history raises questions about how activist groups operate. She served as executive director of the Wayfinder Foundation, a Minneapolis nonprofit aimed at fighting poverty and supporting Black and Latina activists, from 2019 to 2024.
Tax filings reveal the organization pulled in over $5.2 million in revenue during her tenure, yet disbursed only about $700,000 in grants—often less than her annual compensation. In 2024 alone, grants totaled $158,811, while Armstrong earned $215,726 in salary plus $40,548 in benefits. Over six years, her total pay exceeded $1.1 million, including health and deferred compensation. The foundation received $20,000 from the Black Lives Matter Global Network in 2023 and over $2.3 million from the Walton Family Foundation between 2018 and 2024.
Such funding streams suggest a web of support for agendas that challenge law and order. The Walton Family Foundation, tied to Walmart’s fortunes, has backed progressive causes despite the company’s public stance on business-friendly policies. Meanwhile, BLM’s involvement echoes past controversies where donations fueled activism but sparked scrutiny over spending.
Armstrong left Wayfinder at the end of 2024 to focus on Dope Roots, her cannabis company, which donates portions of sales to end the “war on drugs” and aid Black women entrepreneurs in the industry. Critics see this as part of a pattern where nonprofits serve as vehicles for personal gain and radical causes, diverting resources from genuine community aid.
Armstrong’s rhetoric often pushes boundaries. She once praised Assata Shakur, convicted of murdering a New Jersey state trooper in 1977, as “a brave, wise, powerful, and revolutionary Black woman.” She also spearheaded boycotts against Target for scaling back diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, accusing the retailer of aligning with forces “attacking democracy and racial progress.”
These stances align with a broader movement that views law enforcement and traditional institutions as tools of oppression, even as they rely on taxpayer-supported systems.
The church incident strikes at the heart of religious liberty, a cornerstone of American life. Scripture warns against those who twist faith for earthly power—Jesus drove moneychangers from the temple, not worshipers. Armstrong’s claim to act “in the power of the almighty God” rings hollow when her group terrified children and disrupted prayer. If Easterwood’s alleged ICE work protects communities from fraud and violence, as federal officials assert, then targeting his church smells of selective outrage. Protesters decry “atrocities,” yet their methods mirror the intimidation they condemn.
This episode exposes how funded activism can erode civil society. Nonprofits like Wayfinder promise uplift but deliver modest results while executives thrive. With DOJ scrutiny mounting, Armstrong’s actions may face real consequences. Meanwhile, churches across the nation must remain vigilant against those who weaponize protest to silence faith. True justice respects the sacred spaces where people seek solace, not strife.
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