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

[Ruminations]

Personally I think Don Lemon was set up by somebody in the group. And it went high up. Because somebody knew that protesting in a church was a big deal. Whereas most people don't really get that. They probably don't understand why protesting in a church is a bigger deal, legally, than say protesting in like a store or a restaurant.

Because it's interesting that somebody led the group right there, right during the service, right when Don was there. Right to a federal charge. I don't think it's coincidental. Especially after we knew Don was on the political radar and they were looking for a way to silence journalists like they do it in Russia. Someone who well studied the US laws came up with this plot.

So yeah I think it's highly likely Don got set up to face serious charges. Watching him interviewing there, it's clear he didn't know, because he was like, Hey we're just exercising our first amendment right here. He didn't seem worried about it at all. So he clearly didn't realize that it was violating a federal law.

But actually it should not violate a federal law, because the federal law writes that you have to use force. Apparently the law has not been used that way in practice and has been overstretched. But I think Don can get out of it with a good attorney.

I don't know if I'd go to "set-up."

I do imagine the protesters welcomed the coverage and additional documentation in case violence was used against them.

Protesters less provocative than them had already been killed with multiple gunshot wounds, and this protest was predictably edgy. How long are people going to accept random killings on their streets?

That is one of the many, many things ICE is doing wrong. They are basically saying, "You protest peacefully, I will kill you." Some people will decide to go home. Some will just protest peacefully harder, more and in greater numbers. Others will say, "Perhaps we need to be a bit more disruptive, then." This can be a trap, because it gives ICE an excuse for their violence.

(It is a bad, unacceptable excuse, btw. If someone is disruptive, trespassing, blocking traffic, there are laws and consequences. It is NOT okay for ICE to resort to extrajudicial violence.)

If any protesters were breaking laws, there might be and should be consequences. I do think it is possible the protesters crossed some legal lines, although I find going to FACE act for a majority religion that has used its parishioners to harass women getting medical care, thus creating a need for it, a tad ironic. More than a tad ironic. Richly ironic.

But, if laws were broken, sometimes it's the right thing to break laws and face consequences. It's not okay to just accept secret, masked Gestapo to randomly grab people, demand papers, arrest people who are documented immigrants or citizens which shows no regard for the stated mission of agency, kidnap children, kill protesters randomly. Maybe it's worth it to get arrested for disruption if it helps stop ICE abuses.

And journalists are journalists. Lemon is a journalist, and his documents help everybody. Even the people considering citations against protesters.

MOO

Edit the tense. lol, don't think Don Lemon or his husband would appreciate my killing him off by using the past tense. He IS a journalist, not was one.

 

[Inthedetails]

Personally I think Don Lemon was set up by somebody in the group. And it went high up. Because somebody knew that protesting in a church was a big deal. Whereas most people don't really get that. They probably don't understand why protesting in a church is a bigger deal, legally, than say protesting in like a store or a restaurant.

snipped

Completely disagree, with respect.

The people protesting were not yokels and they knew what they were doing. They are informed people.

I think they were knowingly making "good trouble" and were willing to risk legal trouble for the greater good of getting the message out - not to the congregation, but to the public about ICE leadership.

And I think Lemon and the other journalists were there to cover the story because they are journalists who want to cover interesting and important stories.

The story has turned into the issue of interrupting worship instead of ICE leadership, unfortunately for them. I think their message missed the mark.

It's also about 1A and DOJ overreach, but I expect the case to be tossed out, fwiw.

jmopinion

ETA: I think the case against the journalists will be tossed, while the charges against protesters will proceed.

 

[CSIDreamer]

I got distracted by the Nancy Guthrie case, apologies for the delayed response.

So in your opinion there are legitimate news stories that are, for reasons of good taste, simply not truly coverable? A story from across the street, with only secondhand delayed sources, is less valuable and debatably real imo than one that is entirely on scene. I don't think I am cut out for it myself, but I appreciate those who are willing to go to those places and do those uncomfortable things. Without those people, we would miss a lot -- or be force fed a lot of someone's agenda, imo.

(I got distracted, too)

IMO, good taste and integrity are 2 different things.

 

[shotgun09]

BREAKING: AAG Harmeet Dhillon Reveals DOJ Investigating As Many as “40 People” in Minnesota Church “Attack.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/2019259766065828330

 

[Rolypolyoly]

I agree that it had to be terrifying for Fort's children. I personally wish that on no child. But, I wonder where the thoughts of terrifying children was when Ms Fort was allegedly in a church, participating and encouraging terrifying young children ( amongst others ) herself? Pot meet kettle, so they say. IMO

We have been told by the organiser of the protest that DL, GF and even many of the actual protestors didnt have any knowledge of what they were planning to do beyond that they would be protesting. They didnt know in advance that they would be entering a church and disrupting the worship, and with that said I dont believe either journalist went there knowing that children would be traumatised.
They didnt personally protest or scare children. They documented others doing so.
I think the pot's conscience is clear.

Exactly. Black lives matter and racialjusticeMN plus an independent reporter (all linked upthread) who held unverified beliefs about a church congregation went to their church to inform the congregation that a member of their church is a federal officer. Rather than hand out pamplets, or speak to the congregation after their religious meeting, they disrupted the meeting and traumatized families and children.

I hope no one responds to imply that this was justified because of something that federal officers do.

These were families with children at church on Sunday morning. No one in the church had anything to do with federal officers.

The protesters were absolutely in the wrong for traumatising children, the ones that said terrible things about their parents going to hell should be ashamed of themselves. Anyone who weaponises children should be ashamed of themselves.

Two wrongs dont make a right!.

I personally dont agree with protesting inside a church, legal or not, and I am an atheist.

I don't believe DL or GF were part of the protesting, and the wrongful arrest is what I am intesting in discussing.

I won't justify the protesters behaviour. They should have stayed out on the street, and even on the street they should not direct their words at children.

All JMO.