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Journalist Don Lemon was released from custody Friday after being arrested on federal civil rights charges stemming from his coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest at a Minnesota church in January. The former CNN anchor was arrested overnight in Los Angeles, while another independent journalist and two protest participants were arrested in Minnesota.
Speaking to reporters after his court appearance in California, Lemon maintained a defiant stance. “I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now,” he said. “In fact, there is no more important time than right now, this very moment, for a free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable.”
A Minnesota grand jury indicted Lemon and others on charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers during the January 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, where a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official serves as a pastor.
In the Los Angeles courtroom, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Robbins sought a $100,000 bond, arguing that Lemon “knowingly joined a mob that stormed into a church.” However, the judge released him without requiring bail and granted permission for him to travel to France in June while the case proceeds. Defense attorney Marilyn Bednarski indicated Lemon plans to plead not guilty and contest the charges in Minnesota.
Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023 after a controversial run as a morning host, has maintained he was at the protest solely as an independent journalist documenting the event. His attorney, Abbe Lowell, emphasized this point in a statement: “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done.”
Since leaving CNN, Lemon has established himself as an independent journalist, regularly posting content on YouTube. During his livestream from the church protest, he repeatedly stated, “I’m not here as an activist. I’m here as a journalist,” while describing the scene and interviewing both churchgoers and demonstrators.
The arrests have drawn sharp criticism from media advocates and civil rights activists. The Rev. Al Sharpton characterized the Trump administration’s actions as taking a “sledgehammer” to “the knees of the First Amendment.” The National Association of Black Journalists expressed being “outraged and deeply alarmed” by Lemon’s arrest, calling it an attempt to “criminalize and threaten press freedom under the guise of law enforcement.”
Georgia Fort, another journalist arrested in connection with the protest, livestreamed the moments before her arrest, telling viewers that agents were at her door and her First Amendment rights were being violated. A judge released Fort, along with activists Trahern Crews and Jamael Lundy, on bond, rejecting the Justice Department’s request to keep them in custody.
Jane Kirtley, a media law and ethics expert at the University of Minnesota, criticized the government’s application of federal laws to journalists gathering news. She described the charges against Lemon and Fort as “pure intimidation and government overreach.”
The protest at the center of the case disrupted services at Cities Church, with participants chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referring to a 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. The church belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention and lists David Easterwood, who leads ICE’s St. Paul field office, as one of its pastors.
Lead pastor Jonathan Parnell expressed gratitude for the Department of Justice’s actions, stating, “We are grateful that the Department of Justice acted swiftly to protect Cities Church so that we can continue to faithfully live out the church’s mission to worship Jesus and make him known.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi promoted the arrests on social media, declaring, “Under President Trump’s leadership and this administration, you have the right to worship freely and safely. And if I haven’t been clear already, if you violate that sacred right, we are coming after you.”
The case has raised significant concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists covering contentious political events, particularly as it affects Black journalists documenting social justice issues.
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8 Comments
This is a concerning development for press freedom. Journalists should be able to report on protests without fear of prosecution, as long as they remain peaceful and do not interfere with others’ rights. I hope the charges against Don Lemon are carefully reviewed and that the truth comes to light.
I agree, the ability of the media to cover important issues without hindrance is crucial in a democracy. Let’s hope this was an isolated incident and not part of a broader crackdown on the press.
This is a complex situation, but the principle of press freedom should be paramount. Journalists must be able to cover protests and other newsworthy events without facing criminal charges, as long as they are not actively disrupting or inciting violence. I hope the facts of this case are thoroughly examined.
This is a troubling development that merits close examination. Journalists must be able to cover events of public interest without fear of prosecution, as long as they are acting within the law. I hope the charges against Lemon are carefully reviewed to ensure they are justified and not an attempt to stifle press freedom.
While the details of this case are still unclear, any attempt to criminalize journalism is highly troubling. The media plays a vital role in holding the powerful accountable and shining a light on important issues. I hope this is not part of a broader pattern of suppressing press freedoms.
Absolutely. Journalists must be able to do their jobs without fear of retaliation. I’m concerned about the precedent this could set if the charges against Lemon are not properly justified.
The arrest of a prominent journalist like Don Lemon is highly concerning and raises serious questions about the state of press freedom in the US. While the specifics of the case are still emerging, any attempt to criminalize journalism is a dangerous precedent that must be closely scrutinized.
I agree. The media’s ability to report on issues of public interest, even controversial ones, is fundamental to a healthy democracy. This case deserves close attention to ensure it does not set a worrying trend.