Journalist Don Lemon Charged with Federal Civil Rights Crimes for Covering Church Protest/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Journalist Don Lemon has been charged with federal civil rights violations after livestreaming an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a Minnesota church service. Lemon, who denies wrongdoing, insists he was acting as a journalist. Critics say the charges threaten First Amendment protections and press freedom.
Don Lemon Church Protest Charges: Quick Looks
- Don Lemon arrested, indicted over anti-ICE protest coverage
- Feds accuse him of interfering with worship rights
- Incident occurred at Cities Church, led by an ICE official
- Lemon insists he acted only as a journalist, not an activist
- Prosecutors say he aided protest planning and livestreamed the disruption
- Outrage from media groups, civil rights leaders, and Black journalist associations
- Lemon granted release, plans to fight charges in Minnesota
- Charges come amid broader crackdowns on protest and media
Deep Look: Don Lemon Indicted in Civil Rights Case Over Anti-ICE Church Protest Coverage
Veteran journalist Don Lemon has been released from custody following his arrest on federal civil rights charges stemming from his coverage of an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The Department of Justice alleges that Lemon and eight others conspired to interfere with the First Amendment rights of worshippers at Cities Church, where an ICE official serves as pastor. The controversial indictment has sparked backlash from press freedom groups, civil rights advocates, and journalists nationwide.
Livestreaming or Leading?
The protest, which occurred on January 18, targeted a Sunday service and was organized in response to the death of Renee Good, a mother fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. Protesters entered the church chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” confronting the pastor and disrupting the service.
Lemon, who was present and livestreaming the protest, is accused by prosecutors of acting as a co-conspirator. According to the indictment, he joined planning sessions, maintained “operational secrecy,” and questioned the pastor on camera to “promote the operation’s message.”
Lemon maintains he was simply reporting. “I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now,” he said after his release. “I will not be silenced.”
His lawyer, Abbe Lowell, emphasized that Lemon was not affiliated with the activists and attended as an independent journalist. “Don has been a journalist for 30 years. His work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done.”
Arrests and Fallout
Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles, while fellow journalist Georgia Fort and activists Trahern Crews and Jamael Lundy were arrested in Minnesota. All have pleaded not guilty and were released on bond, despite the Justice Department’s efforts to keep them in custody.
Rev. Al Sharpton denounced the arrests, accusing the Trump administration of attacking press freedom: “This is a sledgehammer to the knees of the First Amendment.”
Civil rights attorney Kevin Riach, who represents Fort, called the case a “sinister turn” in U.S. press freedoms. Fort, like Lemon, insists she was there solely to document events, not to participate in activism.
Church Leaders Defend Legal Action
Church officials welcomed the charges. Jonathan Parnell, lead pastor at Cities Church, praised the Justice Department for acting swiftly. “We are grateful that we can continue to worship freely and without fear,” he said.
The church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, and one of its pastors, David Easterwood, heads ICE’s St. Paul field office—a central reason for the protest.
According to prosecutors, protesters shouted and blew whistles, making worshippers feel threatened. Lemon allegedly described a frightened young man in the crowd as “sad and crying,” admitting on his stream that the experience was “traumatic.”
A Broader First Amendment Battle
Legal experts say the charges raise major constitutional questions. Jane Kirtley, a media law scholar at the University of Minnesota, called the indictment “pure intimidation and government overreach.” She warned that using civil rights statutes in this way sets a dangerous precedent for journalists.
The National Association of Black Journalists issued a blistering statement saying it was “outraged and deeply alarmed” by the criminalization of reporters—especially Black journalists—who document injustice. “This is not just about Don Lemon. This is about press freedom.”
Lemon himself predicted retaliation last week after an initial attempt to indict him failed. “Keep trying,” he said defiantly. “That’s not going to diminish my voice.”
Protest Roots and Ongoing Fallout
The protest follows years of racial justice activism in Minnesota, especially after the killing of George Floyd in 2020. Activist Trahern Crews, a longtime Black Lives Matter organizer, framed the charges as part of a historical pattern:
“All the greats have been to jail—MLK, Malcolm X. We stood up for justice.”
Though Lemon left CNN in 2023, he has continued building a digital platform where he shares unfiltered commentary. His outspoken criticism of Trump and focus on immigration enforcement have made him a frequent target of far-right commentators.
Still, Lemon insists he’s focused on journalism: “There is no more important time than now for a free and independent media.”
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