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

[PrairieWind]

It doesn’t mean he did either, and as the woman who arranged the protest told us in her own words that he did not know where they were going, even as they left the meeting area, and what they were planning to do when they got there, I believe her. Its ok if you dont.

Do you really think DL didn't know where they were when they arrived a church? This isn't some building being used as a church, it is a full beautiful church. He knew where he was.

 

[otto]

Lemon went with his mike on but did not utter a word from inside the church until the protest started. How was he disrupting the service?

There was a scheduled church service. During that service, 20-40 people entered the church. In a coordinated pre-planned manner, they began shouting. The pastor's church service was interrupted. Protesters frightened families and children.

During the scheduled service, an independent journalist and 3 protesters approached the pastor to ask questions. When asked to leave, the journalist implied that the pastor was depriving the journalist of the right to worhsip.

The pastor wanted to look after his upset congregation and family. Some of the congregation were crying.

It's all linked upthread ... and partially linked here. I don't think it can be argued that after the protesters disrupted the service, the pastor was already disrupted therefore protesters and an independent journalist questioning the pastor were not disruptive.

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

 

[Rolypolyoly]

Do you really think DL didn't know where they were when they arrived a church? This isn't some building being used as a church, it is a full beautiful church. He knew where he was.

I dont believe that is what I said? I said he didnt know where he was going before he got there, which the protest organiser has publicly stated as fact.

 

[AppleTreeGreen]

There is no question that DL speaks with the organizer before about the intent to "disrupt" the service. That is a crime. <modsnip: off topic>. But he walked in there himself and interviewed people in what he knew was a worship service, the pastor saying he had asked them to leave and they would not. There are kids in tears. There is NO question the organizers of the even should be convicted under the FACE act.
Will DL? He knew he was not there to worship, so why did he go in? Could he not have covered the news story from outside without actually participating?

From what I understand about the FACE Act, prosecutors have to prove that DL accompanied the protesters to disrupt the service with them or to witness and report on the events. If it is the latter than he and his producer are protected by the First Amendment and are not guilty of a crime as stated in Judge Schultz’s letter to Judge Colloton and Bondi’s petition for appeal.

Also DL did not organize or lead the protest which likely means it would have continued on without him. He could have stayed outside and reported from there but those poor kids would have still been the targets of verbal abuse and intimidation from the protesters only now public and local community take even longer to become aware of what is going on. The pastor already mentioned that a similar event occurred the week before. However, at least now there was one benefit of DL reporting inside the church is that the whole country saw from DL’s recordings and just how disruptive the protests can be in places of worship and the impacts, including emotional distress and psychological trauma, they have on kids. In others words, concern for the children’s welfare received the attention it deserved because it was recorded and featured on MSM by a popular journalist. Not to mention, there were church members that seemed want to talk and share their thoughts publicly as well and the pastor also got to share his viewpoint as well. MOO, but according to NBC and CNN he did not interrupt or interview anybody still worshipping or obstruct or harass those who indicated they clearly did not want to talk or be interviewed on camera.

While the protesters are being held accountable and called out by the public and MSM, there has been an increase in awareness and discussion on balancing acts of civic engagement and protesting without trampling on others’ religious freedoms, places of worship and free speech. Furthermore, despite his clear biasness DL’s platform had to give both a voice to both the protesters and parishioners as he interacted and reported on both. This helped make sure the parishioners got to share their side of the story with MSM and receive support, just like the protesters did, from all communities across the country.

Additionally, DL and his producer did leave within 13 minutes of being asked by the pastor. No, it was not immediate and he could still be held accountable for trespassing but I thought it should be mentioned since the affidavit mentions other incidences involving kids captured by his camera outside as well and he interviews more parishioners and protested.

I am not saying it or DL by any means is perfect but at least by reporting from the inside or at the site of where the actual events or situations occur, and doing so responsibly and respectfully, you have a higher chance of letting everyone get a turn to have their side or voice heard, getting important issues or circumstances on the record even when they are unexpected or escape our initial attention, and letting the story speak for itself by showing events as they occurred and capturing the real impact of them.

 

[Friday Fan]

Even in regards to trespass. Churches are fully private and my bet is that a lack of "Keep out" etc. signs does not diminish that legal status in any way.

Wooded lots may require such signage and / or being asked to leave. But... my guess is that churches are right up there with private homes in regards to being innately private, with or with out signs.

No. Churches are not fully private.

Millions of people would be charged with trespassing if they were like private homes. Just about anyone can come and go.

 

[otto]

The independent journalist, per the affidavit, "continues to distract the pastor with questions." One of the questions is whether the journalist is not allowed to worship.

Why would the independent journalist ask that question during a disruptive protest if not to be disruptive? Neither he, nor any of the protesters, were there to protest - and he knew that.

In the video footage, and during questioning from the independent journalist, the pastor "appeared to be cornered" by 4 people. The pastor was disrupted from helping his family, crying children, and a frightened congregation.

~ in my opinion ~​

 

[Ruminations]

I have no reason to believe the disruption would not have been or was not reported to local law enforcement. However, had I not seen national news showing clips of the chaotic scene I and many others would not know it took place and would not have the opportunity to feel disappointed by or outraged by that action being taken by protesters.

I question why DL alone as an independent journalist was singled out among the other press present that day to face charges. Because I suspect it has to do with DL not having a network's legal team behind him. He will have to spend his own money defending this nonsense IMO and that is the point of taking him into custody when local authorities had already declined to prosecute him.

MOO it is very obvious and troubling habit of this administration to charge someone federally when a review by the local authorities has not gone the way our POTUS would like. Sort of like the man's personal ultimate do-over. Didn't get the result I want, I'll just change the playing field to one I own. MOO JMO

I was trying so hard to stay away from this thread. But I have to say this:

If the church was full of protesters and the only people arrested were the journalists documenting it, we have a serious problem with the erosion of free speech and free journalism.

I don't particularly believe the accusations some on this thread are making. I am especially underwhelmed when people think the church protest was bad for children. When federal agents shoot people in the middle of the day on the sidewalks, the trauma to children does not get mentioned. Children should be safe in their own neighborhoods from dangerous federal agents with guns- this is a higher priority than keeping children away from vocal protesters who are unarmed.

Who knows if protesting in this situation was or was not a violation of the church goers rights to go to church? That is for the local police to decide, and issue citations if necessary.

But when the federal government goes out of its way to arrest ONLY the journalists, that is the end of free journalism as we know it.

MOO

 

[Friday Fan]

Yes, because Don left 7 minutes after he was asked to leave. Is that "too long" or "reasonable" when asked to leave a seemingly-crowded and chaotic private property?

A pastor at one point asks him to leave. Seven minutes later, he exits the church building.

Feds arrest Don Lemon, Minnesota journalist and 2 others over church protest

Lemon was arrested by U.S. agents days after covering an anti-ICE protest at a St. Paul, Minn., church. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi called the protest a "coordinated attack."

www.wuft.org

It would depend what he did in 7 minutes. It seems kinda long to me. If all he did was keep to himself and attempt to exit, then he would be presumed to obeying. If he continued to interview etc, then it could be considered trespassing.

I don't know if the feds filed trespassing charges. I know there are federal trespassing laws that have been used for trespassing on federal property. Don't know if they can file trespassing charges in this case because I don't know if there is a statute.


I think the church would need to file trespassing charges. It would be a state thing and each state is different with regards to trespassing. I think in Texas, the church would need to sue him in civil court to fine him. I think criminal trespassing would not apply in this case, if it were based on Texas state laws. (However, it's MN, so may be different)

 

[Hexe]

Well he then started interviewing people while the chaos ensued, including the pastor who indicated he wanted them to leave. If he was truly reporting on the incident, why did he not interview those disrupting the service?

Because he interviewed them before the protest.

 

[PrairieWind]

Per the video he himself uploaded to YouTube, this is exactly what he did. I don’t know if you have watched the video, but he literally walked into the church completely alone, sat in a pew and said nothing. Even the protesters themselves entered the church quietly, before any sermon began. They took seats in pews and said nothing. Lekima Armstrong, who lead the group, waited until a certain moment in the sermon to approach the pastor and start the protest. All this language that they “barged” or “stormed” into the church and immediately started chanting and protesting is just not correct. IMO.

Isn't that worse? DL's previous interview shows he knew they were there to disrupt the service, he enters with them, knowing it is about to happen. How do you justify this?

 

[Hexe]

There was a scheduled church service. During that service, 20-40 people entered the church. In a coordinated pre-planned manner, they began shouting. The pastor's church service was interrupted. Protesters frightened families and children.

I thought we were talking about the actions of Don Lemon.

 

[Summerliz03]

Isn't that worse? DL's previous interview shows he knew they were there to disrupt the service, he enters with them, knowing it is about to happen. How do you justify this?

As a journalist, I expect him to be where the story is? I guess I don’t understand your question. I don’t feel like I need to justify Don being in a church as a journalist to cover a story. I don’t really get the outrage about him finding out he would be covering a protest and then going to cover said protest. None of that makes him a protester. How else are journalists supposed to report the news?

Edit: add MOO, IMO

 

[SouthAussie]

It would depend what he did in 7 minutes. It seems kinda long to me. If all he did was keep to himself and attempt to exit, then he would be presumed to obeying. If he continued to interview etc, then it could be considered trespassing.

Yes, sillybilly posted earlier .... Someone would have to determine a legally required length of time in which they were required to leave before it constitutes trespassing.

That is the question - with regards to trespassing.

imo

 

[Magic8Ball]

It’s a white nationalist church. You tell me what might have motivated them to choose this path, and how it reflects on their stories they told of that incident.

Cities Church is not a "white nationalist church."

It's a Southern Baptist church. One of around 47k in the US.

It's a mainline Protestant denomination.

 

[Summerliz03]

I don't know if the feds filed trespassing charges. I know there are federal trespassing laws that have been used for trespassing on federal property. Don't know if they can file trespassing charges in this case because I don't know if there is a statute.


I think the church would need to file trespassing charges. It would be a state thing and each state is different with regards to trespassing. I think in Texas, the church would need to sue him in civil court to fine him. I think criminal trespassing would not apply in this case, if it were based on Texas state laws. (However, it's MN, so may be different)

Yes the Federal governments jurisdiction for trespassing only extends to federal buildings. They have not charged him with that because they can’t. The church itself can press trespassing charges against him, which they haven’t done at this point but I guess we will see in the future if they do. I do think they probably would have a fairly solid case against him for trespassing, even though he was acting as a journalist since they asked him to leave. But the DOJ can’t charge him with that.

 

[SouthAussie]

Cities Church is not a "white nationalist church."

It's a Southern Baptist church. One of around 47k in the US.

It's a mainline Protestant denomination.

Tricia's earlier post ... (in case you missed it, and with regard to this thread).

Post in thread 'MN - Journalist Don Lemon arrested for church protest, Minneapolis, 18 Jan 2026'

Yesterday at 10:59 AM

(@tricia if you need to delete this post, if it upsets some, please appreciate the time it took for me to get the links together to try to give you an answer! )

To the contrary @SouthAussie you did exactly what I asked you to do.

Thank you everyone for the solid research.

We received many alerts objecting to claims that Cities Church is linked to white nationalism and asking that those claims be removed due to lack of sourcing. Based on that, I was prepared to remove all mentions—unless additional credible sources were provided. I expected there would be none...

• tricia

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• 
• 

 

[Sundog]

It’s a white nationalist church. You tell me what might have motivated them to choose this path, and how it reflects on their stories they told of that incident.

That's really blaming the victims. Did you see the statement from the child to his father? "Daddy, I thought we were going to die." It's in the indictment.

I am especially underwhelmed when people think the church protest was bad for children.

<Snipped for focus>

Children thought they would be shot, while praying in Church! Did you read the affidavit and indictment? After the service, a child is crying and says to his father "Daddy, I thought we were going to die." There are other witness statements in the legal documents posted here on this thread (affidavit and indictment). These children and many of the adults, seniors and others, will be traumatized for the rest of their lives.

There will most certainly be a civil lawsuit by the Church against the individuals present that day, and DL may pay a lot more to the families than he ever would if convicted federally and forced to pay the fine for violating the FACE Act.

The Pastor and congregants need justice, especially the families with children who were there.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Tricia's earlier post ... (in case you missed it, and with regard to this thread).

Post in thread 'MN - Journalist Don Lemon arrested for church protest, Minneapolis, 18 Jan 2026'

Yesterday at 10:59 AM

(@tricia if you need to delete this post, if it upsets some, please appreciate the time it took for me to get the links together to try to give you an answer! )

To the contrary @SouthAussie you did exactly what I asked you to do.

Thank you everyone for the solid research.

We received many alerts objecting to claims that Cities Church is linked to white nationalism and asking that those claims be removed due to lack of sourcing. Based on that, I was prepared to remove all mentions—unless additional credible sources were provided. I expected there would be none...

• tricia

• 
• 
• 

She also said to stop posting about it, so there's that.

 

[SouthAussie]

She also said to stop posting about it, so there's that.

Yes, I hoped OP would read Tricia's whole post that I reposted.

 

[Izzylizzy]

5 hrs ago.​

'Don Lemon & Brian Tyler Cohen Defend Free Speech'​