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

[sds71]

Local independent journalist GEORGIA FORT in front of a judge for her 1st appearance: “I understand the accusations." Government prosecutors are seeking to have her jailed as her case plays out citing the criminal allegations are "violent" in nature

Magistrate judge finds the crime is not "violent" in nature. She is releasing Georgia Fort to go home while her case plays out. This is the 3rd judge federal prosecutors have tried to convince that the church protest related crimes are of a violent nature.

Prosecutors attempted to tack on an additional condition of release for Georgia Fort while her case plays out -- a "stay away" order from St. Paul church where protest occurred. Judge rules there is no need to do that. Sends Fort home. Courtroom again erupts in applause

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017331479009804706

 

[witchway]

<snipped for focus>

It was not nonsense.

I suggest you watch the videos of the protesters and Lemon storming the church sanctuary and the screaming and yelling in the faces of the pastor, women and children sitting in their pews and praying, reading the bible, and children crying, frightened and fearful congregants. It was absolutely shocking to see and contemplate.

By this comment you absolutely did not see it. I did LIVE all of it and as I stated, they were already in the church sitting amongst the parishioners. They stood up. Don Lemon came in through a side door and positioned himself and his film guy behind a column, to film.

 

[Sundog]

I understand the anger of the protesters but barging into a church protesting did not do them any favors. On saying that if a church is going to hire a preacher who holds a political post and uses a pulpit to push his political agenda then they better expect backlash.

There has been no reporting on MSM that the church pastor has pushed any political agenda, at least none that I have seen. Do you have any link that says that is the case?

 

[Sundog]

Totally agree. I don't understand why they chose that manner of protest and I personally think it's in extremely poor taste to disrupt a church service. I would think protesting outside the church would be much more effective appealing to church goers and non church goers alike to let them know the pastor is a .

I can't read the slur you gave the church pastor, who is a victim in this case, along with his congregants.

 

[Sundog]

https://bsky.app/profile/motherjones.com%2Fpost%2F3mdo2ml56ts2q

Blaming the victim won't help Don.

 

[K9Enzo]

<snipped for focus>

It was not nonsense.

I suggest you watch the videos of the protesters and Lemon storming the church sanctuary and the screaming and yelling in the faces of the pastor, women and children sitting in their pews and praying, reading the bible, and children crying, frightened and fearful congregants. It was absolutely shocking to see and contemplate.

I'm also assuming many of these adults, teens, little ones, in church service, didn't process these agitators yelling their chant slogan "Hands up, don't shoot". How terrifying. IMO


In live stream video footage from former CNN anchor Don Lemon, about 30 protestors with the Racial Justice Network stormed into Cities Church, yelling, "Hands up, don't shoot" and "ICE out."

Children Terrified as Anti-ICE Mob Storms Minnesota Church to Target Pastor: 'Despicable'

The Department of Justice says it is investigating an anti-ICE protest after demonstrators busted into a St.

cbn.com

 

[otto]

"Lemon is known for his distaste for Trump and the Trump administration and has millions of followers on social media. On January 18, he reported live from the protest in St. Paul, describing what happened and interviewing churchgoers and activists.

"I'm not here as an activist, but as a journalist," he said repeatedly. He reportedly didn't know beforehand that the protesters were going to disrupt the service.
...

The charge is that he deprived others of their civil rights and violated their right to freedom of religion by blocking access to a church building."

Bekende journalist opgepakt na verslaan van anti-ICE-actie in Minnesota

Don Lemon zei tijdens zijn liveverslag meerdere malen dat hij daar niet als activist was, maar als journalist zijn werk deed.

nos.nl

 

[Inthedetails]

By this comment you absolutely did not see it. I did LIVE all of it and as I stated, they were already in the church sitting amongst the parishioners. They stood up. Don Lemon came in through a side door and positioned himself and his film guy behind a column, to film.

There are a few cases on WS right now where viewing the video (with audio) is essential.

jmopinion

 

[Sundog]

Local independent journalist GEORGIA FORT in front of a judge for her 1st appearance: “I understand the accusations." Government prosecutors are seeking to have her jailed as her case plays out citing the criminal allegations are "violent" in nature

Magistrate judge finds the crime is not "violent" in nature. She is releasing Georgia Fort to go home while her case plays out. This is the 3rd judge federal prosecutors have tried to convince that the church protest related crimes are of a violent nature.

Prosecutors attempted to tack on an additional condition of release for Georgia Fort while her case plays out -- a "stay away" order from St. Paul church where protest occurred. Judge rules there is no need to do that. Sends Fort home. Courtroom again erupts in applause

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017331479009804706

Is this the magistrate judge who is the spouse of one of Keith Ellison's aides?

 

[Sundog]

By this comment you absolutely did not see it. I did LIVE all of it and as I stated, they were already in the church sitting amongst the parishioners. They stood up. Don Lemon came in through a side door and positioned himself and his film guy behind a column, to film.

I watched it, and it was despicable how the agitators were walking up and down the sanctuary and accosting Christian believers as they worshipped in their Church.

 

[witchway]

There are a few cases on WS right now where viewing the video (with audio) is essential.

jmopinion

I know.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

I watched it, and it was despicable how the agitators were walking up and down the sanctuary and accosting Christian believers as they worshipped in their Church.

It was terrible to watch, the child being comforted by his parents is heartbreaking. imo

 

[tricia]

Precedent was set with the arrest of independent journalists who were chronicling the events of January 6th at the Capitol. I think it was about 8 independent journalists who were arrested and charged and some sent to prison and some negotiated a plea deal, IIRC. Also, no journalists defended their right to chronicle the events and practice journalism during these events. So it seems that these journalism associations have a clear double standard for when they speak out against this and when they don't. I don't think any of us are surprised, sadly.

We need a link to this information please. Remember when you post something as factual you must include a link

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Did Lemon remove his video from social media? I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. It wasn’t a good look. imo

 

[bestill]

I watched it, and it was despicable how the agitators were walking up and down the sanctuary and accosting Christian believers as they worshipped in their Church.

I watched it too. To me Don was borderline gleeful to be there and filming. Children were cowering and scared to death! Folks were fleeing the church and being followed, yelled at and filmed. It was planned and the protestors waited for a specific time to stand up and disrupt the pastor and his sermon. Literally yelling in his face. Personally I don't know anything about the church, their beliefs or what the pastor does on the side, to me that is irrelevant. I hope someone can post the film! I was watching it play out on TV.

All JMO

 

[tricia]

If there is video available, but it is on TikTok or other sources, we do not normally approve please post it, then hit the report button so we can decide whether we will allow it.
It is imperative we watch video available so we all can have a better understanding of what happened.
By the way we have allowed TiKTok and other non-approved sources before when a video was posted by a bystander that was essential to the case.
Thank you.
Tricia

 

[Inthedetails]

I know.

I was speaking to the universe, not to you specifically. I apologize that was not clear.

jmo

 

[tlcya]

to be clear. I did not support the actions of this group, this entering of a church and interrupting a meeting or worship. I do not think that is at all appropriate. And if the other journalists present that day are facing the same charges as DL I am willing to watch the case against them play out.

Even as I am uncomfortable with the idea of arresting and prosecuting journalists who I feel are a necessary part of transparency and watchdogging those in power. But then this whole situation makes me uncomfortable. The fact this group went into a house of worship, AND the fact that a journalist(s) are now charged for their role in reporting live that incident. The whole thing is a mess IMO

 

[Summerliz03]

to be clear. I did not support the actions of this group, this entering of a church and interrupting a meeting or worship. I do not think that is at all appropriate. And if other journalists present that day are facing the same charges as DL I am willing to watch the case against them play out.

Even as I am uncomfortable with the idea of arresting and prosecuting journalists who I feel are a necessary part of transparency and watchdogging those in power. But then this whole situation makes me uncomfortable. The fact this group went into a house of worship, AND the fact that a journalist(s) are now charged for their role in reporting live that incident. The whole thing is a mess IMO

I agree with everything you said. I believe only one other journalist has been arrested for the church protest, she’s a local Minneapolis reporter named Georgia Fort.

Journalist Georgia Fort Arrested Over Reporting On Anti-ICE Protest

Georgia Fort is the second independent Black journalist arrested by federal agents in connection to coverage of an anti-ICE protest at a church.

thestoryexchange.org

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

I watched it too. To me Don was borderline gleeful to be there and filming. Children were cowering and scared to death! Folks were fleeing the church and being followed, yelled at and filmed. It was planned and the protestors waited for a specific time to stand up and disrupt the pastor and his sermon. Literally yelling in his face. Personally I don't know anything about the church, their beliefs or what the pastor does on the side, to me that is irrelevant. I hope someone can post the film! I was watching it play out on TV.

All JMO

The disruptors were strangers to the congregants but accepted among them. Telling. Imo