The FBI has made a striking arrest in Minnesota, nabbing a social media activist who dared authorities to come after him following a disruptive protest at a local church.
On Thursday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested William Kelly, known online as “DaWokeFarmer” on TikTok, in connection with a January 18 incident at Cities Church in St. Paul. Kelly faces charges of conspiracy to deprive rights and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
The charges stem from a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that interrupted a church service, leaving parishioners unsettled.
Two other individuals, Nekima Levy Armstrong, accused of organizing the event, and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, who participated, were also arrested by FBI agents for their roles in the same disruption. Video footage captured the protestors entering the church, where they alleged a senior church official was tied to ICE operations. Kelly’s arrest follows his public taunts directed at Attorney General Pam Bondi on social media in the days after the event.
The issue has sparked intense debate over the balance between free expression and the right to worship without interference. Many see this as a clash between progressive activism and the sanctity of religious spaces, Breitbart reported.
Let’s rewind to January 18, when a group of anti-ICE protestors stormed into Cities Church mid-service. Their claim? That a top church figure was doubling as an ICE agent, a serious accusation that fueled their disruption.
Kelly didn’t shy away from the spotlight after the incident, taking to social media with fiery rhetoric. He declared, “Yesterday, I went into a church with Nikema Armstrong, and I protested these white supremacists.” That kind of language only pours fuel on an already heated situation, ignoring the distress caused to those simply trying to pray.
His online bravado didn’t stop there. Kelly went as far as challenging Attorney General Pam Bondi directly, saying, “Come and get me Pam Bondi, you traitorous bitch.” Such provocative words raise questions about whether he sought accountability or just craved attention, but they certainly got the FBI’s notice.
Critics of the protest argue that while concerns about immigration enforcement deserve discussion, invading a house of worship crosses a clear line. Churches are places of refuge, not battlegrounds for political stunts.
This kind of activism risks alienating even those who might sympathize with the underlying cause. Supporters of Kelly might claim they’re shining a light on perceived injustices tied to ICE policies. Yet, one has to wonder if their methods undermine whatever message they hoped to send.
Immigration policy remains a deeply divisive issue, and allegations of church officials having ties to federal enforcement agencies, if true, would understandably stir emotions. But without verified evidence presented in a proper forum, such claims during a protest can feel more like slander than advocacy.
The FACE Act, under which Kelly is charged, was originally designed to protect access to reproductive health clinics but has been applied to religious facilities as well. Its use here signals that the federal government takes interruptions of worship seriously, regardless of the political motivations behind them.
What’s clear is that the St. Paul incident isn’t just about one protest or one activist. It’s a microcosm of broader tensions over how far activism can go before it infringes on others’ fundamental rights.
Kelly’s arrest, alongside Armstrong and Allen, sends a message that the FBI isn’t playing around when it comes to protecting places of worship. Some might cheer this as a stand for law and order.
Others might see it as stifling dissent. Either way, the fallout from this case could shape how future protests are conducted near sensitive locations.
If you’re going to challenge authority, perhaps it’s wiser to pick a venue that doesn’t disrupt the innocent. The courtroom, not the church pew, might be the better stage for these battles.
