After the arrest of Minnesota civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, the White House posted a digitally altered image of her on social media—darkening her skin tone and adding tears to her face—making it appear she was crying during her arrest. The original photo, posted earlier by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, showed Armstrong with a neutral expression. The White House has not denied the image was altered and later dismissed it as a “meme.”

This matters deeply.

Nekima Levy Armstrong is a criminal defendant who is presumed innocent under the law. Posting manipulated images of an arrested person—especially while charges are pending—risks prejudicing the public, tainting potential jurors, and undermining the integrity of the justice system. Former federal prosecutors and legal scholars have warned that this behavior creates serious credibility and fairness concerns, even if it does not automatically dismiss a case.

This was not an accident. The White House altered only Armstrong’s image, not those of other defendants arrested the same day. Armstrong is a Black woman, a well-known civil rights advocate, and a vocal critic of immigration enforcement abuses. The decision to distort her appearance and present it as official government messaging raises alarming questions about racial bias, political intimidation, and the weaponization of state power.

Even more troubling, the administration has acknowledged that it will continue sharing manipulated content. When government institutions blur the line between fact and fabrication, public trust collapses. Democracy depends on truth—especially from those who hold the highest offices in the country.

We call on the White House, President Donald Trump, and senior administration officials to:

• Publicly acknowledge that the image was altered,
• Issue a formal apology to Nekima Levy Armstrong,
• Commit to ending the use of manipulated images in official communications, and
• Establish clear standards preventing digital deception in government messaging.

Sign this petition to demand accountability and defend the integrity of our democracy.