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

[otto]

I mean, isn’t that basic level reporting? Following an individual and/or group through the entirety of the actions you’re documenting, from start to finish?

Or are we following Trump journalism standards now, where we merely wait in awe for Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem to dictate “the truth” to us and puppet it back to the public?

The point being that there are many comments repeatedly stating that Don Lemon had no knowledge prior to the event. However, according to legal documents, he arrived in Minneapolis for this event and he met with organizers for pre-op planning.

No one is commenting on journalist methods. I am responding repeatedly to claims that he was ignorant of the event prior to the event.

 

[Summerliz03]

A journalist wearing a toque, winter coat with hood up, dark sunglasses? Transparent? Unafraid to be recognized?

Or the fact that it was snowing and probably minus 0° out? I don’t know what you want me to say to this? He’s dressed for winter, outside. The winter in Minnesota is no joke. He wasn’t covering his face, he has on sunglasses. It’s literally snowing so he has a hat and hood up. He’s a lot less covered than any ICE agent patrolling the streets. IMO.

 

[Sillybilly]

Hey folks,

Don't store posts to report later. I'm finding posts that have been removed, for example 30 minutes ago, being Reported 1 minute ago. That tell us they are being copied/pasted when they may have subsequently been removed.

Thank you.

 

[otto]

Or the fact that it was snowing and probably minus 0° out? I don’t know what you want me to say to this? He’s dressed for winter, outside. The winter in Minnesota is no joke. He wasn’t covering his face, he has on sunglasses. It’s literally snowing so he has a hat and hood up. He’s a lot less covered than any ICE agent patrolling the streets. IMO.

Why aren't people leaving the church wearing dark sunglasses on an overcast snowy day?

 

[Summerliz03]

The point being that there are many comments repeatedly stating that Don Lemon had no knowledge prior to the event. However, according to legal documents, he arrived in Minneapolis for this event and he met with organizers for pre-op planning.

No one is commenting on journalist methods. I am responding repeatedly to claims that he was ignorant of the event prior to the event.

How is arriving in Minneapolis for the event that he was going to cover not journalism? Don’t journalist follow stories? Don’t they receive tips from contacts and informants and then go report on what he is told?

He obviously knew about the event before it started, I didn’t think that was up for debate? He found out about the event before it happened and filmed both the lead up to them entering the church and the protest and afterwards. He was acting as a journalist that entire time. I see zero evidence he was a PART of the planning, as in, he contributed to the event being planned or the details in how it was going to take place. He was reporting on it the entire time.

 

[otto]

Considering how journalists are being treated by this current administration, can you blame him? Our rights are being violated and denied to us by an overreaching federal government. I hardly see how his actions are an affront to anyone except those hanging around in a church run by white nationalists and bigots. Or do the rights of Christians deserve to be less trampled on than the rest of us?

Again. The point was to refute repeated statements that Don Lemon had no knowledge of the event prior to the event. Legal documents prove otherwise.

 

[Summerliz03]

Why aren't people leaving the church wearing dark sunglasses on an overcast snowy day?

I didn’t know wearing sunglasses outside was a crime? The snow makes things very bright as things reflect off of it. My kids have worn sunglasses to go sledding even on cloudy days because the snow can make it hard to see well. I’m unsure what this is supposed to prove?

 

[Hexe]

This is not accurate. Pastor Parnell was closing in prayer when Lemon entered the church. The pastor was about to begin his sermon, and had asked congregants to turn to the book of the Bible of text he was preaching from. At that moment, some of the protesters inside the church stood up and began yelling, and immediately disrupted the service, and then Lemon began talking from behind his camera. The service was defintely not over, the protestors stopped it from taking place as scheduled.

He was not interviewing anyone at that moment, was he? As for talking, running commentary is a part of the job.

You can see and hear all of this on Lemon's own live stream. He barged up to Pastor Parnell after the service was interrupted, and started badgering him with questions. At which time Pastor Parnell told him straight up, all of this is utterly shameful.

After the service was interrupted, that's the key here. Lemon did not interrupt the service himself and he started to interview people (a part of his job) after the service was over due to the interruption.

MOO

 

[bearfossils]

Again. The point was to refute repeated statements that Don Lemon had no knowledge of the event prior to the event. Legal documents prove otherwise.

<modsnip> please tell me how this is meaningful or how any of this congregation was harmed outside of their church service being disrupted a single day.

<modsnip>

 

[Hexe]

Why aren't people leaving the church wearing dark sunglasses on an overcast snowy day?

During the overcast days snow still reflects a lot of light, too much for some people to bear. Is the photosensitivity an evidence of guilt? Honest question, no sarcasm, as I feel confused.

MOO

 

[otto]

ICE agents are literally shooting to death protestors in the streets but this administration feels the need to file legal paperwork arguing about exactly what a journalist “knew” before, during, and after an event? Again, please tell me how this is meaningful or how any of this congregation was harmed outside of their church service being disrupted a single day.

If anything, aggressively pursing a black journalist outside of a church with leaders who have spoken about the joys of race relations during slavery and how women’s rights are a cancer on society only further highlights their own agenda.

Affidavits provide context for facts.

 

[otto]

During the overcast days snow still reflects a lot of light, too much for some people to bear. Is the photosensitivity an evidence of guilt? Honest question, no sarcasm, as I feel confused.

MOO

The journalist is unrecognizable. Whether he has his head covered with two hats and wearing dark sunglasses, or has a neck tube covering his nose and mouth, is there any real difference?

(image from comment upthread)

 

[SouthAussie]

I had been wondering when the next court date is. Feb 9th.

Don Lemon Released Without Bond Over Minnesota Protest Charge

Nine people have been accused of violating federal law during the demonstration at a church this month, reviving a case that was rejected last week by a magistrate judge.

www.nytimes.com

 

[303gmf]

The journalist is unrecognizable. Whether he has his head covered with two hats and wearing dark sunglasses, or has a neck tube covering his nose and mouth, is there any real difference?
View attachment 641096
(image from comment upthread)

Cold weather gear?
I looked similar shoveling my driveway, yes sunglasses too
Sensitive to sun reflecting on snow. As a long time skier it’s habit

 

[SouthAussie]

The journalist is unrecognizable. Whether he has his head covered with two hats and wearing dark sunglasses, or has a neck tube covering his nose and mouth, is there any real difference?
View attachment 641096
(image from comment upthread)

He obviously was not trying to act like he wasn't there. Or hide who he is. He was live streaming.

imo

The journalist live streamed a protest at a church in the city of St. Paul.

Journalist Don Lemon charged with civil rights crimes over anti-ICE protest

Former CNN news anchor Don Lemon enters a not guilty plea and is released from custody after being arrested during an anti-ICE protest he says he was covering as an independent journalist.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Summerliz03]

The journalist is unrecognizable. Whether he has his head covered with two hats and wearing dark sunglasses, or has a neck tube covering his nose and mouth, is there any real difference?
View attachment 641096
(image from comment upthread)

This is him when he was inside the church. His hood is down and he’s wearing regular glasses, not sunglasses. I do not find anything about his appearance inside the church to look like someone who is trying to hide his identity. When he goes back outside of the church, he puts his hood up as it’s snowing and changes to sunglasses. Ok, that’s not a crime and a very normal outdoor outfit. But while he’s inside the church, he has no sunglasses or hood up. I don’t find him trying to hide his appearance inside or out. He’s dressed for the cold weather. All MOO

Image taken from Don Lemons TikTok video which is linked earlier in this thread.

 

[Summerliz03]

This is him when he was inside the church. His hood is down and he’s wearing regular glasses, not sunglasses. I do not find anything about his appearance inside the church to look like someone who is trying to hide his identity. When he goes back outside of the church, he puts his hood up as it’s snowing and changes to sunglasses. Ok, that’s not a crime and a very normal outdoor outfit. But while he’s inside the church, he has no sunglasses or hood up. I don’t find him trying to hide his appearance inside or out. He’s dressed for the cold weather. All MOO

Image taken from Don Lemons TikTok video which is linked earlier in this thread.

Also I wanted to add - I’m fairly sure the glasses he’s wearing are Meta glasses that record videos. A lot of journalists wear them now to make it easier to film without holding a separate phone/camera.

 

[tlcya]

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.

I get it. In theory I would agree. IMO I am concerned DL crossed a line. And I think, as an actual journalist of many many years, he knew it when he did it. Maybe he did so in the heat of the moment on the chase for his scoop, but IMO that moment wondering do I go in when outside the church, that was him acknowledging he was concerned himself about how close to the line he was.

What if he did so knowing he would be prosecuted. What if that was the point for him? Strong convictions, personal promotion, some other motivator. Maybe this is exactly what he wanted to come from his actions that day?

 

[tricia]

A journalist wearing a toque, winter coat with hood up, dark sunglasses? Transparent? Unafraid to be recognized?

First it is freezing there. Second, I would wear my sunglasses during the day because they are prescription. I have worn them in church services in Salt Lake City, so I don't have to take in two pairs of glasses.
Also, he is famous. Maybe while he is working on a story he doesn't want to be recognized.
The thing is it doesn't matter. He can wear what he wants. That does not change the fact that he was arrested because he reported on a story. That is a chilling incident. This has me very worried about freedom of the press.

 

[tricia]

Also I wanted to add - I’m fairly sure the glasses he’s wearing are Meta glasses that record videos. A lot of journalists wear them now to make it easier to film without holding a separate phone/camera.

And this is a very logical explanation as well.