MN - Journalist Don Lemon arrested for church protest, Minneapolis, 18 Jan 2026

[ilovewings]

Well, if the law is applied equally, DL and the rest of the crew will be convicted and they can apply for a pardon. Honestly, if I was the US attorney here, I would NOT have charged DL, not because I don't think he didn't participate, but because he is too much of a distraction. Just use him as the prime witness against the others.

Surely you jest---his case will be dismissed by a judge

 

[PrairieWind]

Surely you jest---his case will be dismissed by a judge

and on appeal reinstated.

 

[PrairieWind]

SBMFF

Were there journalists arrested and charged in the abortion protests?

Were journalists actively participating in the abortion protests?

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Were journalists actively participating in the abortion protests?

No as far as I know, and neither was DL as far as I know.

 

[PrairieWind]

No as far as I know, and neither was DL as far as I know.

We can go round and round. But there is no dispute, that during the time of the scheduled church service, DL is standing in the front of the church questioning the pastor. DL's position would be much more defendable if he had just been standing to the side videoing the event and conducting his interviews afterwards. But he elected to participate in the disruption, not sure report it. And I think that will be what gets him.

 

[303gmf]

But the protesters didn't go to an ICE facility to protest, they went to a church with completely innocent people inside. Would it be ok to protest the Somali community fraud accusations by occupying Somali mosques and preventing them from worshipping?

 

[303gmf]

I would encourage you to read Overt Act #16 on page 9 of the indictment:

View attachment 648861

Once again, I’m in favor if free speech and pro journalism, anti ICE and antifascism
Not interested in the church position

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

We can go round and round. But there is no dispute, that during the time of the scheduled church service, DL is standing in the front of the church questioning the pastor. DL's position would be much more defendable if he had just been standing to the side videoing the event and conducting his interviews afterwards. But he elected to participate in the disruption, not sure report it. And I think that will be what gets him.

He was filming the event, and what's the definition of "afterwards"? It was after the service was disrupted, so he, personally, did not disrupt the service. He filmed its disruption. To wait until after the protestors left would be silly in terms of reporting the news. A reporter is always going to interview during the event if they can. You can see this in any number of stories about protests. No reporter I've ever seen televised or published waits until after the protest to get soundbytes. That's just not how it's done.

MOO.

 

[303gmf]

The protesters were violating federal law, the FACE Act. Pure and simple. Imagine if a large group of protesters entered an abortion clinic and were shouting obscenities in the faces of the clients inside the clinic. Window dressing? I doubt it. Violations of federal law, the FACE Act, pure and simple.

Same thoughts on January 6th stop the steal at the capitol?

 

[PrairieWind]

Same thoughts on January 6th stop the steal at the capitol?

LOL. I didn't know the Capitol was an abortion clinic or a church. Who knew?! LOL.

 

[303gmf]

I keep asking the question and no one will answer it. Here, I will answer it. It would be wrong. Why? Because first, it is illegal. Two it just wrong to invade and disrupt a religious service.
I guess what you are saying is that you don't believe churches should be protected even though the law clearly says they are. Am I right?

Or tax exempt but that’s OT

 

[Ruminations]

I don’t get the church vs. mosque analogy at all. Apples vs. oranges. MOO

Right? It's an absurd claim. What mosque case are we talking about?

MOO

 

[Ruminations]

That's what gets to me also. The affidavits say one thing, my eyes see something different in the videos.

imo

It troubled the judges who declined to indict. It's not just you.

MOO

 

[303gmf]

LOL. I didn't know the Capitol was an abortion clinic or a church. Who knew?! LOL.

A mob, a protest language sure changes
That building should be covered under much more than an act

 

[PrairieWind]

Right? It's an absurd claim. What mosque case are we talking about?

MOO

Thanks for joining in Ruminations. The question was; if a group of protesters stormed a local mosque and prevented morning prayers from happening, yelling at worshippers, would people be ok with that as well? Love to hear your thoughts.

 

[Ruminations]

One child. One child is too many. Of course. But it’s the job of the parents or other caregivers to look after the child in the aftermath and reduce the distress. It's quite feasible.

Traumatised children? With all due respect, the word "traumatised" is severely overused, including here. Not the same meaning as "distressed". You actually need a doctor to diagnose it. Before diagnosis, measures can and should be taken to reduce distress and prevent traumatisation instead of making use of the child's state to prove some point.
JMO

Not to mention, it is out of context hearsay. The parent could theoretically take the stand and make that claim, but he'd have to be able to withstand cross examination.

I wonder how that child is holding up after the extrajudicial murders in his neighborhood. He could be a schoolmate of Renee Good's son. No wonder death is on his mind.

The Feds would have to show in court that the protesters, not the ICE officers with guns, were causing his trauma.

MOO

 

[PrairieWind]

Not to mention, it is out of context hearsay. The parent could theoretically take the stand and make that claim, but he'd have to be able to withstand cross examination.

I wonder how that child is holding up after the extrajudicial murders in his neighborhood. He could be a schoolmate of Renee Good's son. No wonder death is on his mind.

The Feds would have to show in court that the protesters, not the ICE officers with guns, were causing his trauma.

MOO

I believe it was Don Lemon that described the child as traumatized, wasn't it?

 

[witchway]

I have watched lots of videos since this occurred. Are you talking about the same ones?
Ushers have always been part of my church experiences as well. Only in the last couple months has this policy be in place here and as I see in other parishes. It is to prevent church shootings, and disruptions. It is a shame for sure. I know many protestant churches have armed ushers now for the same purpose.
Not sure what your comment means about your friend being not catholic. Non-Catholics can still attend a service in any catholic church as far as I am award. Many Catholics can attend services in protestant churches. None are free to disrupt the services.

Let me know what churches those are as I find that a basically insane statement. jmo

Gun toting church ushers in a house of worship?

<modsnip>

 

[Ruminations]

Were journalists actively participating in the abortion protests?

Please show me a time stamp where the journalists were participating in protests <modsnip>

MOO

 

[Ontario Mom]

Thanks for joining in Ruminations. The question was; if a group of protesters stormed a local mosque and prevented morning prayers from happening, yelling at worshippers, would people be ok with that as well? Love to hear your thoughts.

I think it's an important question. If all the defendants named are not held accountable for this, if there is irrefutable evidence, it sends the message that this is what society now accepts. And maybe a mosque will be next? Or a temple, or synagogue?

jmo