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

[Summerliz03]

It's good to know you agree protesting in churches should not happen.

I believe (based on what I know) and the grand jury believed based on all the evidence they had available to them, that Don Lemon was indeed with the protestors inside the church, engaging in utterly inexcusable behavior, violating federal law.

jmo

”A grand jury would indict a ham sandwich” - Chief Judge Sol Wachtler. I don’t think a grand jury indictment is a slam dunk, as they are presented with only the prosecutions side with zero evidence or rebuttal from the defense. I think the fact that 2 different judges refused to issue an arrest warrant (one was a singular judge, one was a panel of 3 judges) says more about the case than the fact that the DOJ was able to find a Grand Jury to indict.

As I stated before, I’m willing to keep an open mind and change my opinion on the case if more actual facts and proof is shown that Don Lemon was part of the planning process of this protest. I hope that people who seem very set in their opinions on this case can also remain open minded as we learn more. But I also see a huge violation of his first amendment right of free press and that’s the real heart of this case. All MOO.

 

[LAborn]

”A grand jury would indict a ham sandwich” - Chief Judge Sol Wachtler. I don’t think a grand jury indictment is a slam dunk, as they are presented with only the prosecutions side with zero evidence or rebuttal from the defense. I think the fact that 2 different judges refused to issue an arrest warrant (one was a singular judge, one was a panel of 3 judges) says more about the case than the fact that the DOJ was able to find a Grand Jury to indict.

As I stated before, I’m willing to keep an open mind and change my opinion on the case if more actual facts and proof is shown that Don Lemon was part of the planning process of this protest. I hope that people who seem very set in their opinions on this case can also remain open minded as we learn more. But I also see a huge violation of his first amendment right of free press and that’s the real heart of this case. All MOO.

By chance I was watching his live stream that day. He had no knowledge ahead of time, nor part of the planning. He makes a practice of asking questions of people he comes in contact with while on the ground, and was told about some gathering at a church. He was respectful even about entering the church, asking people outside about what was going on. As far as I could tell he was there briefly documenting, then left. For what it's worth....

 

[Summerliz03]

By chance I was watching his live stream that day. He had no knowledge ahead of time, nor part of the planning. He makes a practice of asking questions of people he comes in contact with while on the ground, and was told about some gathering at a church. For what it's worth....

I truly think to prove this case, the DOJ will need actual hard proof, like a text chain where Don Lemon himself was planning or organizing this protest. They can’t just say “he was with the protestors, he’s a protestor” as their only proof, as he was actively acting as a reporter in every video and his own live stream. I understand people are very upset that a church was being protested against and I don’t disagree that is an issue. But it comes down to Don Lemon being there as a journalist. Journalists report on news that is controversial, uncomfortable and sometimes illegal. That’s part of their job. All MOO

 

[LAborn]

I truly think to prove this case, the DOJ will need actual hard proof, like a text chain where Don Lemon himself was planning or organizing this protest. They can’t just say “he was with the protestors, he’s a protestor” as their only proof, as he was actively acting as a reporter in every video and his own live stream. I understand people are very upset that a church was being protested against and I don’t disagree that is an issue. But it comes down to Don Lemon being there as a journalist. Journalists report on news that is controversial, uncomfortable and sometimes illegal. That’s part of their job. All MOO

Agree 100%.

 

[otto]

I'm actually shocked anyone would support an American journalist being arrested for practicing journalism. Scary times in America.

That's the question - whether the man was a journalist or an agitator. Did he have an opinion about the people in the church prior to asking them questions, or was he gathering information so that his audience could form an independent opinion?

As a journalist, did he consider the FACE Act? Did he consider the rights of children in church? If he was still employed by CNN, and governed by their professional code of conduct, ethics and standards, would he have filmed families in church with the message that they are white supremacists?

 

[tlcya]

I see the person who prepared/signed the affidavit has opinions on the Renee Good incident. MOO RG was not involved in an illegal protest.

Some of the redactions I can positively tell are DL's name redacted based on context around them and what I know about DL's livestream. Some are not so clear and IMO may refer to Fort. What I can tell refers to DL is disturbing. It would be one thing IMO if he had received a phone call or messages saying get to [church address] a "disruption/protest" is about to happen. But his meeting up at the grocery store parking lot. His livestreaming the prep for this event, his seeming, to me, clear knowledge of where they were going beforehand and taking measures not to give it away, his entry into the church to watch that show go down, all of that to me doesn't exactly scream journalistic integrity or disinterested third party observer. That is JMO I am a bit disappointed in his decisions that day. I worry he crossed a line.

I haven't landed on a particular side of the fence yet, but I am taking the info in as it becomes available.

 

[maamager]

don’t flame me but i don’t see a huge deal in protesting a church or their pastor. imo

 

[otto]

By chance I was watching his live stream that day. He had no knowledge ahead of time, nor part of the planning. He makes a practice of asking questions of people he comes in contact with while on the ground, and was told about some gathering at a church. He was respectful even about entering the church, asking people outside about what was going on. As far as I could tell he was there briefly documenting, then left. For what it's worth....

If Don Lemon had no knowledge prior to the church protest, and was not part of the planning, why did he meet co-conspirators at a shopping center for a pre-op briefing?

Why did he explain that he had just arrived in Minneapolis and was there to speak with an organization gearing up for protest?

Don Lemon indictment

www.documentcloud.org

FBI affidavit in suport of arrest warrant | PDF | U.S. Immigration And Customs Enforcement | American Government

This affidavit, submitted by Special Agent Timothy Gerber, outlines the investigation into a group of agitators who disrupted a religious service at Cities Church in St. Paul, MN on January 18, 2026. The group, led by Nekima Valdez Levy-Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, coordinated their...

www.scribd.com

 

[LAborn]

View attachment 641070

I see the person who prepared/signed the affidavit has opinions on the Renee Good incident. MOO RG was not involved in an illegal protest.

Some of the redactions I can positively tell are DL's name redacted based on context around them and what I know about DL's livestream. Some are not so clear and IMO may refer to Fort. What I can tell refers to DL is disturbing. It would be one thing IMO if he had received a phone call or messages saying get to [church address] a "disruption/protest" is about to happen. But his meeting up at the grocery store parking lot. His livestreaming the prep for this event, his seeming, to me, clear knowledge of where they were going beforehand and taking measures not to give it away, his entry into the church to watch that show go down, all of that to me doesn't exactly scream journalistic integrity or disinterested third party observer. That is JMO I am a bit disappointed in his decisions that day. I worry he crossed a line.

I haven't landed on a particular side of the fence yet, but I am taking the info in as it becomes available.

Then every journalist alive is guilty of being a participate in the stories they report. All of them get "tips" and follow up on them, then document and report. That's their job.

 

[Hexe]

My question here, is that Mr. Lemon is no longer working for a news agency. Did he travel to Minneapolis to insert himself into a drama to be relevant again?

What does it have to do with what he did or did not do during the demonstration in the church?

 

[LAborn]

My question here, is that Mr. Lemon is no longer working for a news agency. Did he travel to Minneapolis to insert himself into a drama to be relevant again?

He's an independent reporter, who streams live via his Youtube channel. Been doing it since he left CNN. He travels to where stories are happening. For example, when the government shut down happened, he traveled to DC to interview people impacted during the protracted shutdown. There are quite a few people/groups who do this on a regular basis and it's very useful to viewers who want to know what's happening in real time, but can't travel.

 

[Hexe]

The law appears to state that it is illegal for anybody to disrupt a church service. That might include a journalist barging in to "interview" people.

For all I know Lemon was interviewing people when they were leaving. He did not disrupt the service in order to interview anybody. If you have any evidence showing otherwise, please share.

MOO

 

[Rolypolyoly]

bbm^^

Feel the same way? Have ICE agents been woken up to dozens of officers at their door to arrest them like this Georgia Fort was?

jmo

No, but at least 3 should have IMO.

 

[CSIDreamer]

By chance I was watching his live stream that day. He had no knowledge ahead of time, nor part of the planning. He makes a practice of asking questions of people he comes in contact with while on the ground, and was told about some gathering at a church. He was respectful even about entering the church, asking people outside about what was going on. As far as I could tell he was there briefly documenting, then left. For what it's worth....

What people outside? I missed that part. TY.

 

[Hexe]

That's the question - whether the man was a journalist or an agitator. Did he have an opinion about the people in the church prior to asking them questions, or was he gathering information so that his audience could form an independent opinion?

Having an opinion is not a crime and journalists are free to have one about anything, like every other human being.

MOO

 

[Summerliz03]

For all I know Lemon was interviewing people when they were leaving. He did not disrupt the service in order to interview anybody. If you have any evidence showing otherwise, please share.

MOO

He interviewed the pastor of the church, who spoke with him for several minutes. The pastor could have at any time during that interview said, I do not want to make any statements and walked away, but he didn’t. This was all done after the church service was over.

 

[LAborn]

What people outside? I missed that part. TY.

There were a few people milling about outside, maybe parishioners? Not sure, but he just greeted them, asked how they were doing and kept walking. It was freezing outside, so very few!!!

 

[303gmf]

If I build a building, put in some pews, and nail a cross to the wall, do I make myself immediately immune from criticism, protesting, or “disruptions” of any kind? Do you get to talk about how much you hate women and brown people as much as you want as long as you cloak yourself as “church”? Is free speech and protest limited to the rest of us if we don’t adhere to a religion, despite living in a country where we have the freedom of religion and from religion? What about separation of church and state? If the State repeatedly aligns itself with churches of a certain kind, then doesn’t our right to protest extend to the incestuous relationship that has been unconstitutionally woven between them?

Tax free grift at that! $$$

 

[otto]

He interviewed the pastor of the church, who spoke with him for several minutes. The pastor could have at any time during that interview said, I do not want to make any statements and walked away, but he didn’t. This was all done after the church service was over.

This affidavit in support of the arrest warrant has been linked several times.

Could the pastor have walked away? Is it true that he chose to not walk away? Not according to this affidavit.

When the pastor asked the protesters to leave, is it appropriate for the "journalist" so say: "you don't want us to worship?"

Is the journalist suggesting that the protesters are there to worship? If not, why does he passively accuse the pastor of interfering with their freedom to worship when they are asked to leave?

FBI affidavit in suport of arrest warrant | PDF | U.S. Immigration And Customs Enforcement | American Government

This affidavit, submitted by Special Agent Timothy Gerber, outlines the investigation into a group of agitators who disrupted a religious service at Cities Church in St. Paul, MN on January 18, 2026. The group, led by Nekima Valdez Levy-Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, coordinated their...

www.scribd.com

 

[Summerliz03]

What people outside? I missed that part. TY.

He interviewed several parishioners and one of the pastors outside the church (it started in the doorway of the church as they were leaving and then continued outside) I was told official TikTok accounts are allowed so I have attached the two videos - 1 is him interviewing a pastor and 1 is interviewing a parishioner. These are both from Don Lemons official TikTok account.


Edit, they are large files so I will have to split them into two comments. The 2nd interview will be in my next comment.