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

[SouthAussie]

The only thing that I saw in your post about sermons at the church were your mention of the pastor preaching against transgenderism and the pope. I'm not sure how that shows an agenda.

As I added to my post, read the whole article, then do a little research on the co-founders of Cities Church.

imo

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

DBM

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Of course, you are right, there was always going to be a criminal complaint. Congregants were crying, children were crying, people were followed out to their cars, as they sat in their church pews praying and worshipping protesters were in their face, shouting about their beliefs, demeaning them as Christians, etc. It was a violent, loud and nasty protest and Lemon was part of it, now trying to hide behind a first amendment right. Shameful and shows the coward that he is.

For some reason, it seems to be ok for ICE to invade churches, but not journalists covering protestors.

I'm curious if people who think Lemon should have been arrested also believe that ICE is doing the right thing by invading houses of worship to arrest people?

Religious Groups Sue Trump-Vance Administration Over Immigration Raids at Houses of Worship

Diverse Communities Say Policy Violates Religious Freedom and Threatens Congregants Boston, MA — A large coalition of faith groups filed a lawsuit today against the U.S.

democracyforward.org

"A large coalition of faith groups filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Secretary Kristi Noem over the sweeping and aggressive immigration policy that gives free rein to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to conduct enforcement actions in and around houses of worship and other “sensitive locations.” The lawsuit argues the policy violates the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act. "

 

[keek]

You believe they may have been prevented from leaving based on what? Please cite a source for such a serious accusation.

They were not, the vid was submitted to us here if we did not see on our own. Scanning the audience, surprised, not sure what to do, understandably or what was going on at first. They were sitting there or looking around, maybe they felt they shouldn't of though. IMO

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

"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

And at least TWO separate judges have essentially said this is hogwash.

SPJ strongly condemns arrests of journalists covering anti-ICE demonstration in Minnesota | Society of Professional Journalists

www.spj.org

"In a letter to the appeals court before Friday’s arrests, Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz, an appointee of President George W. Bush, wrote, “Two of the five protestors were not protestors at all; instead, they were a journalist and his producer. There is no evidence that those two engaged in any criminal behavior or conspired to do so … The government’s arguments about the urgency of its request makes no sense. As the government says, ‘dozens’ of protestors invaded Cities Church on Sunday. The leaders of that group have been arrested, and everyone knows that they have been arrested.”

 

[JennieM]

2 hr 55 min ago

Federal agents took Don Lemon's cell phone during arrest, source says​

From CNN's Jamie Gangel
Independent journalist and former CNN anchor Don Lemon had a cell phone with him when he was taken into custody and the agents who arrested him obtained the phone, according to a source familiar with the arrest.

It is not known whether the agents had a warrant to search the contents of the phone.

https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/minnesota-ice-minneapolis-protests-01-30-26?t=1769816628705

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

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

Yes, what has happened to American culture is heartbreaking, but it is not Don Lemon's fault.

MOO.

 

[Inthedetails]

2 hr 55 min ago

Federal agents took Don Lemon's cell phone during arrest, source says​

From CNN's Jamie Gangel
Independent journalist and former CNN anchor Don Lemon had a cell phone with him when he was taken into custody and the agents who arrested him obtained the phone, according to a source familiar with the arrest.

It is not known whether the agents had a warrant to search the contents of the phone.

https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/minnesota-ice-minneapolis-protests-01-30-26?t=1769816628705

Just a reminder: the requirement of a warrant is in our 4th amendment in the Bill of Rights.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-4/

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Admittedly I am way out of my lane on this one. IMO only, where he's in hot water is it appears he went beyond documenting events as a detached journalist. Rather than remaining separate from the illegal protest, he moved within them as congregants were confronted, even confronting the pastor himself with contentious questions. He also appears, IMO, to have known they were going into this church beforehand. IMO

Is that the literal job of a journalist? When they cover a fire, they don't just get sweeping video and leave. They pull out the mic and stick the camera in the face of those impacted. They show up at all kinds of places and do that, including protests.

 

[shotgun09]

From the Indictment: BBM

"Overt Act # 20: Defendant LEMON told his livestream audience about congregants leaving the Church and about a “young man” who LEMON could see was “frightened,” “scared,” and “crying” and LEMON observed that the congregants’ reactions were understandable because the experience was “traumatic and uncomfortable,” which he said was the purpose. "


So, scaring and frightening children and young adults IN A CHURCH was your PURPOSE ? And, you filmed it ? On Purpose? ( It's all on video.) Dude.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7596766088742833463

Here is one video but I have seen more, seems that some of the earlier videos that I watched have been taken down. I wonder why . . .

I don't wonder why. He's been arrested and charged. Any lawyer worth his salt would have told him to take down that video so they could use it as evidence, as I'm sure the feds will. That's especially true in this day and age of AI.

MOO.

 

[Tutter]

For some reason, it seems to be ok for ICE to invade churches, but not journalists covering protestors.

I'm curious if people who think Lemon should have been arrested also believe that ICE is doing the right thing by invading houses of worship to arrest people?

Religious Groups Sue Trump-Vance Administration Over Immigration Raids at Houses of Worship

Diverse Communities Say Policy Violates Religious Freedom and Threatens Congregants Boston, MA — A large coalition of faith groups filed a lawsuit today against the U.S.

democracyforward.org

"A large coalition of faith groups filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Secretary Kristi Noem over the sweeping and aggressive immigration policy that gives free rein to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to conduct enforcement actions in and around houses of worship and other “sensitive locations.” The lawsuit argues the policy violates the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act. "

Can LEO’ s arrest any other wanted criminal during a church service? I don’t know, I’m asking if criminals can be arrested during services? I guess it depends on what normal procedure is for arrests. I would say no, church should not be disrupted. They can arrest them after the service is over.

 

[sunflowermomma]

I don't wonder why. He's been arrested and charged. Any lawyer worth his salt would have told him to take down that video so they could use it as evidence, as I'm sure the feds will. That's especially true in this day and age of AI.

MOO.

Dawokefarmer was charged?

 

[Summerliz03]

Dawokefarmer was charged?

Yes, he was arrested and charged on the 22nd for his participation in the protest.

Anti-ICE Protester Know as 'DaWokeFarmer' Arrested Over Minnesota Church Invasion Protest - Tennessee Star

An anti-deportation protester who dared Attorney General Pam Bondi to arrest him for crashing a Sunday church in Minnesota is now in custody, Bondi said Thursday.

tennesseestar.com

 

[sunflowermomma]

Yes, he was arrested and charged on the 22nd for his participation in the protest.

Anti-ICE Protester Know as 'DaWokeFarmer' Arrested Over Minnesota Church Invasion Protest - Tennessee Star

An anti-deportation protester who dared Attorney General Pam Bondi to arrest him for crashing a Sunday church in Minnesota is now in custody, Bondi said Thursday.

tennesseestar.com

thanks, I thought they meant today as well!

 

[JennieM]

Just a reminder: the requirement of a warrant is in our 4th amendment in the Bill of Rights.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-4/

Lawsuit challenges ICE ability to enter homes without warrants from US judges

The lawsuit by the Greater Boston Latino Network and Brazilian Worker Center marked the first case to challenge the constitutionality of a policy laid out in a May memo.

www.reuters.com

 

[JennieM]

4 hr 50 min ago

Witness describes agents arriving at hotel before Don Lemon’s arrest​

From CNN's Julia Vargas Jones

Federal agents waited at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills for several hours to arrest Don Lemon Thursday evening, according to a witness.

At approximately 7 p.m. PT, three unmarked vehicles arrived at the main entrance to the hotel, the witness said. When staff approached the agents inside the vehicles, they produced FBI credentials and staff allowed them to stay parked by the hotel’s entrance, the witness said. At least one agent got out of his vehicle and waited in the lobby for several hours, the witness said.

Lemon was arrested later on Thursday night, CNN previously reported.

CNN has reached out to the Beverly Hilton and Hilton Hotels for comment.

https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/minnesota-ice-minneapolis-protests-01-30-26?t=1769816628705

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Is that the literal job of a journalist? When they cover a fire, they don't just get sweeping video and leave. They pull out the mic and stick the camera in the face of those impacted. They show up at all kinds of places and do that, including protests.

A journalist can be an agitator. The two are not mutually exclusive. I believe he was there as an agitator. imo

Let’s see it from his point of view - unedited. Where’s the footage?

 

[sunflowermomma]

A journalist can be an agitator. The two are not mutually exclusive. I believe he was there as an agitator. imo

Let’s see it from his point of view - unedited. Where’s the footage?

Here you go, you can watch the entire stream end to end with no editing:

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Can LEO’ s arrest any other wanted criminal during a church service? I don’t know, I’m asking if criminals can be arrested during services? I guess it depends on what normal procedure is for arrests. I would say no, church should not be disrupted. They can arrest them after the service is over.

I don't know, but the point is that Lemon was arrested for doing something that the DOJ legalized for ICE last year. So I think they're going to have trouble making the point that Lemon's Constitutional rights should not be respected because it was a church.

MOO.