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

[Sundog]

A journalist can be an agitator. imo

How many protesters did Lemon interview while inside the church? Did he ever once question the behavior of the protesters?

That's a significant observation. And telling, imo.

 

[MrsWatson]

Thanks for the objective analysis.

As to your question, one detractor might be that Lemon filmed himself with the group preparing for the "secret mission", then he followed the protesters directly to the Church.

This could show more involvement towards participating than a fact pattern of: I got an anonymous tip that something news worthy might occur at this church. I then sat outside and waited. I had no previous contact with the protesters.

If it was a "secret mission" why were flyers posted around town advertising it?

 

[Ontario Mom]

Well? Is there any evidence Lemon infringed on amendment rights?

MOO

He filmed himself doing it.

He literally livestreamed himself in a church, during their regularly schedule time of worship, actively participating in interrupting the service. He wasn't participating in the worship, he was walking around, talking and filming and quite audibly making commentary on what was going on.

Both the affidavit and the indictment spell it all out.
So yes, there is evidence. Lemon made sure of it by recording and publishing on his YT channel.

 

[PrairieWind]

Do you have any input on whether places of worship are like private homes, back yards etc and are inherently private?

If churches etc. are innately private trespass may well still occur even with out being told to leave or having posted "Keep out" signs.

But if places of worship are like stores or wooded lots in regards to innate privacy, then signs or the need to be told to leave comes into play.

What is your opinion? Very interested in it.

Churches are "private property" in that they are privately held. They are not "open to the public" in that they must serve all that come in. Their doors are open to those to worship. So in some ways it is like your home. But the trespass question, to me, is a red-herring. Yes, they trespassed. they were asked to leave and did not. But the federal charges are in regards to the FACE Act, not trespass.
Did the police ever respond to this church?

 

[CSIDreamer]

Do we know when the police arrived? Are they charged with trespassing?

They were dispatched at 10:40 a.m. I'm still zooming in and reading.

Page 14, starts at the bottom.

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

 

[otto]

Churches are private property because they are not owned by the govenment, but members of the public walk into churches worldwide, every single day. AFAIK, the Cities Church does not have a "No Trespassing" or "Private Property" sign (although we know churches ARE privately owned). A church is not normally closed to members of the public, of which the group, including Lemon, were members of the public.

IMO, as far as trespassing, if there was no signage and the door was open to members of the public, it then becomes trespassing only when/if they are asked to leave and do not do so. Someone would have to determine a legally required length of time in which they were required to leave before it constitutes trespassing.

IMO

Churches are by definition private property. Don Lemon was asked to leave. Lemon's response was to ask whether the pastor did not want him to worship.

Lemon did not leave as requested, and remained in the church for another 13 minutes. Was Lemon prevented from leaving? That has not been reported.

"The First Amendment ... does not provide journalists with a general right to access private property without permission.

Churches and houses of worship are private property. Entry without consent, particularly during an active religious service, may constitute trespass regardless of journalistic intent or purpose. Newsgathering does not override property rights, and journalists are subject to the same access limitations as the general public.
...

Trespass: Entering or remaining on private property without permission. Journalistic purpose does not negate trespass laws.

Cases involving journalism often involve overlapping constitutional interests."

Why First Amendment Protections Are Limited in the Don Lemon Arrest — EEW Magazine

We go deeper into First Amendment limits, private property rights, and federal protections for religious worship.

www.eewmagazineonline.com

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

 

[Sundog]

So far, 4 judges have indicated that they saw no probable cause.

<snipped for focus>

I thought that one of the judges on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals stated that:

the Complaint and Affidavit clearly establish probable cause for all five arrest warrants

 

[Ontario Mom]

Churches are "private property" in that they are privately held. They are not "open to the public" in that they must serve all that come in. Their doors are open to those to worship. So in some ways it is like your home. But the trespass question, to me, is a red-herring. Yes, they trespassed. they were asked to leave and did not. But the federal charges are in regards to the FACE Act, not trespass.
Did the police ever respond to this church?

They did, and were dispatched at 10:40am after multiple calls from the churchgoers themselves.
Pg. 15 of the affidavit: FBI affidavit in suport of arrest warrant | PDF | U.S. Immigration And Customs Enforcement | American Government

 

[CSIDreamer]

If it was a "secret mission" why were flyers posted around town advertising it?

The secret target was not given.

ETA. I said that all garbled.

 

[shotgun09]

According to the FBI after david ( hehe) I mean affidavit, the police were dispatched at 10:40 am after receiving multiple phone calls from church members. Per Officer Jonathan Schroeder SPPD, the statement states "parishioners reported 20-40 individuals were disrupting their worship services by chanting and protesting"

 

[Rolypolyoly]

Here’s an interview with Nekima Armstrong regarding Don Lemon’s involvement. She mentions that Don saw a flyer posted with basic details about the event and he reached out to her to ask questions about the protest.

Edit: I highly recommend everyone spend the 5 minutes to watch the video of her interview about the event. It’s very informative and gives a lot of details about how everything happened and how the DOJ is handling this case.

Nekima Levy Armstrong says Don Lemon didn't know where he was going | CUOMO

Civil rights attorney and ordained minister Nekima Levy Armstrong, the first person arrested for entering the church alongside Don Lemon, joins NewsNation to discuss Lemon’s arrest.

www.yahoo.com

Well, that answers that then! Neither DL or GF had any prior knowledge and didnt know where they were going or what was going to happen before they got to the location!.

 

[Sundog]

They were dispatched at 10:40 a.m. I'm still zooming in and reading.

Page 14, starts at the bottom.

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

It's really hard to read this affidavit. People thought there was going to be a mass shooting. Children said to their parents after the service "Daddy, I thought we were going to die."

Shameful, evil.

 

[SouthAussie]

<snipped for focus>

I thought that one of the judges on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals stated that:

the Complaint and Affidavit clearly establish probable cause for all five arrest warrants

Yes, on reading further, one appeals judge agreed. But was in the minority.

So, three out of 4 judges declined to sign arrest warrants.

Here's the link.

Appeals court declines to order lower court to sign arrest warrants against Don Lemon, others in church protest

The ruling made public on Saturday did not identify the names of the five defendants for whom the Justice Department is seeking arrest warrants, but multiple sources confirmed to CBS that Lemon is one of them.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Churches are by definition private property. Don Lemon was asked to leave. Lemon's response was to ask whether the pastor did not want him to worship.

Lemon did not leave as requested, and remained in the church for another 13 minutes. Was Lemon prevented from leaving? That has not been reported.

"The First Amendment ... does not provide journalists with a general right to access private property without permission.

Churches and houses of worship are private property. Entry without consent, particularly during an active religious service, may constitute trespass regardless of journalistic intent or purpose. Newsgathering does not override property rights, and journalists are subject to the same access limitations as the general public.
...

Trespass: Entering or remaining on private property without permission. Journalistic purpose does not negate trespass laws.

Cases involving journalism often involve overlapping constitutional interests."

Why First Amendment Protections Are Limited in the Don Lemon Arrest — EEW Magazine

We go deeper into First Amendment limits, private property rights, and federal protections for religious worship.

www.eewmagazineonline.com

View attachment 641287

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

I find it strange that he says “You don’t want us to worship”. He included himself by using the word “us”. What a strange thing to ask since they disrupted the worship service. imo

 

[Sundog]

Well, that answers that then! Neither DL or GF had any prior knowledge and didnt know where they were going or what was going to happen before they got to the location!.

I think it is likely that everyone knew where they were going when they met in the parking lot of Cub Foods. They had to know where they were driving to and where they were going. That is knowledge in advance.

 

[PrairieWind]

Well, that answers that then! Neither DL or GF had any prior knowledge and didnt know where they were going or what was going to happen before they got to the location!.

DL knew in the pre event interview with the organizer that the intent was to disrupt. He then went with them to a church. You can't tell me he didn't know he was entering a church service.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

If it was a "secret mission" why were flyers posted around town advertising it?

Disappearing ink?

 

[SouthAussie]

I think it is likely that everyone knew where they were going when they met in the parking lot of Cub Foods. They had to know where they were driving to and where they were going. That is knowledge in advance.

Don Lemon and his cameraman were driven to the church by someone who is described as a local producer and activist.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/01/23/don-lemon-minneapolis/

 

[Rolypolyoly]

I think it is likely that everyone knew where they were going when they met in the parking lot of Cub Foods. They had to know where they were driving to and where they were going. That is knowledge in advance.

She literally just said they didn't know!
I can only guess that they were told to follow the lead car to the final destination.

ETA @SouthAussie has kindly provided a link showing that they were driven there by someone else.

 

[CSIDreamer]

I find it strange that he says “You don’t want us to worship. He included himself by using the word “us”. What a strange thing to ask since they disrupted the worship service. imo

Especially since he was there all by his lonesome. JMO