Journalist Don Lemon Arrested in LA After Covering Protest at Minnesota Church/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Journalist Don Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles for covering a protest that disrupted a Minnesota church service tied to immigration enforcement. The protest targeted a pastor who also leads a local ICE field office, sparking federal charges against demonstrators. Lemon’s lawyer says he was acting as a journalist, not a protester, and criticized the DOJ for ignoring fatal ICE shootings while pursuing church disruption cases.
Quick Look:
- Don Lemon Arrested: The journalist was detained in Los Angeles for covering a protest at a Minnesota church tied to immigration enforcement.
- Church Disruption Fallout: Protesters targeted a pastor affiliated with ICE; civil rights charges followed.
- Free Press Concerns: Lemon’s lawyer defends his role as a journalist, criticizing the DOJ’s priorities.
Journalist Don Lemon Arrested After Protest at Minnesota Church Sparks Legal Battle
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (Jan. 30, 2026) — Journalist Don Lemon was arrested Thursday in connection with a protest that interrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota earlier this month. The incident, part of a broader wave of unrest over federal immigration enforcement, has further inflamed tensions between civil rights advocates and the Trump administration.
Arrested While Covering the Grammys
Lemon, who was in Los Angeles covering the Grammy Awards, was taken into custody by federal agents, according to his attorney, Abbe Lowell. The charges against him remain unclear, but the arrest follows a judge’s recent rejection of the Justice Department’s initial attempt to prosecute him for his presence at the Jan. 18 protest.
Lemon, who was let go by CNN in 2023, maintains he was acting strictly in his capacity as a journalist and was not affiliated with the protesters who disrupted the service.
“Don has been a journalist for 30 years,” said Lowell. “His work in Minneapolis was no different than any reporting he’s done throughout his career. The First Amendment protects journalists like Don, who shine a light on power and truth.”
Lowell pledged that Lemon would “vigorously fight” any charges in court.
Church Protest Targeted ICE Official
The protest took place during Sunday worship at Cities Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in St. Paul. Demonstrators chanted slogans including “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referring to a 37-year-old Minnesota mother fatally shot by an ICE officer during a recent immigration raid.
One of the church’s pastors, David Easterwood, also leads a local ICE field office, a fact that helped make the church a symbolic protest site.
Authorities have already arrested civil rights attorney Jamal Ortega and two others involved in the demonstration. The Justice Department has charged them with civil rights violations for disrupting religious services.
“Listen loud and clear: WE DO NOT TOLERATE ATTACKS ON PLACES OF WORSHIP,” Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote last week on social media.
DOJ Investigates Protest, Not Killings
The Department of Justice’s decision to move quickly on the church incident while avoiding civil rights investigations into the killings of Renee Good and another protester, Alex Pretti, has drawn heavy criticism.
“Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time and resources to arresting journalists. That’s the real miscarriage of justice,” said Lowell.
Bondi’s office has not commented on whether it will pursue federal civil rights probes into either fatal shooting.
House Democratic Leader said Don Lemon must be freed immediately
“Don Lemon is an accomplished journalist whose urgent work is protected by the First Amendment,” said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries on social media.
“There is zero basis to arrest him. He should be freed immediately.”
He said “The Trump Justice Department is illegitimate. They will all be held accountable for their crimes against the Constitution.”
You must Register or Login to post a comment.