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

[Cryptic]

I have never had to provide consent to attend any church! Never ever!
.

The fact that you were never required to prove consent (most churches choose to allow free access) does not change the fact that churches are fully private property.

I have seen three churches choose (Key word) to restrict visitors.

One Church was on an Indian Reservation and had posted a sign clearly stating that the Church was closed to non tribal members except for certain periods. Visitors still had to be escorted by tribal members and could not photograph the interior. The sign even specified that yes, "non tribal" included natives not from that pueblo.

The other two were Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox. Both churches stated that the church proper was not open to non parish members and that it could not be toured etc. This was during their festivals. I don't know what their usual practices are.

Likewise, I have seen one small Hindu Temple / shrine in a strip mall choose to restrict visitors (sign out front said that entry by non Hindus was forbidden and that Hindus had to establish their identity / religion with the caretakers to get access (key code)

 

[CSIDreamer]

I've been looking for an actual independent journalist code of ethics.

In doing so, I found a little tidbit to use your thinking hats on.

Hypothetically, if a journalist is convicted for trespassing or violating the FACE Act, it seems probable their documentation would be illegal to publish. Very hmm here.

Trying to find a link that might fly here. Ha ha.

Also. I'm not seeing a special code of ethics for indie journalists. Just one more or less umbrella code.

JMO

Trying this:

Privacy | Media Law 101 | PBS

Learn about trespass, intrusion, misappropriation, and other areas of privacy law.

www.pbs.org

See use of illegally obtained materials.

Self reporting for source.

 

[Cryptic]

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.

Please believe me. Churches are fully private.

The fact that most churches choose (very key word) to allow people to come and go does not mean that are public. Churches are private property- full stop period.

 

[Summerliz03]

I have no idea if flyers were posted or not.

But..... in regards to your question, uou would need to ask Don Lemon. In his warm up, he described the target of the protest as being a secret.

Maybe he was hyping the drama? Go figure.

If it’s helpful, I have attached the actual flyer that was distributed. This is a screenshot I took from the interview Ms. Armstrong gave to Chris Cuomo that has been linked several times here. There are very little details in the flyer, which is exactly what Ms. Armstrong stated in her interview - that no one who participated in the protest (except herself and her small group of co-planners) knew the details until they were in the church. The flyer supports that.

 

[303gmf]

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.

That sounds absurd!!

 

[Friday Fan]

The fact that you were never required to prove consent does not change the fact that churches are private property.

Nor, does it change the fact that churches alone, and not the general public, determine who has, or does not have access.

The above aside, I have seen three churches that required consent to be established before one was allowed to enter the actual Church.

One such Church was on an Indian Reservation and had posted a sign clearly stating that the Church was closed to non tribal members except for certain pre designated times. Even then, visitors had to be escorted by tribal members and could not photograph the interior.

The other two were Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox. Both churches stated that the church proper was not open to non parish members and that it could not be toured etc.

I think one of these churches had also added that the interior could not be photographed. This was during their festivals. I don't know what their usual practices are.

Where is this particular Armenian Church located? I'm Armenian and I haven't seen a sign on any church.

Is the Armenian Church an open congregation church? If you consider "the stink-eye" to be a closed congregation, then it is.

But they don't have someone at the door turning away "odars" (Armenian for non-Armenian). Same with Greeks.

Armenian churches tend to have limited business hours and their sanctuary is not open to anyone (including Armenians) except clergy, deacons, etc when badarak is not ongoing.

I would like to know where this church is located in the United States!!!

 

[Cryptic]

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

MOO

To me, yes. Maybe not to you.

 

[witchway]

There were 2 police cars parked outside but no tickets or arrests were made that day.

The fact that 2 magistrates said no to signing an arrest warrant for Don Lemon and Georgia Fort speaks volumes. jmo

 

[303gmf]

IMO Minors should not be subjected to adult problems. Period. Full stop.

Better not let them see or read current news!!

 

[Cryptic]

Where is this particular Armenian Church located? I'm Armenian and I haven't seen a sign on any church. Is the congretation open? If you consider the "stink-eye" to be closed, then it is. But they don't have someone at the door turning "odars" (Armenian for non-Armenian) away. Same with Greeks.

The Armenian Church was located in Texas The Greek church was in California.

As I mentioned, the signs appeared to be associated with the cultural festivals that they were throwing (printed on paper and taped up, mentioned in the festival info packet). I also stated that I don't know their policy on regular Sundays.

Neither of the churches had people stationed at the door. Rather, they seemed to rely on respect / courtesy and that people would heed the signs they had taped up.

And.... neither sign said that you had to be ethnically Armenian or Greek to enter. Rather, they said the Church was closed to "non parish members"- well, at least during the festival. Again, I don't know what their usual policies were.

I just know that I obeyed the signs- and ensured that my children did too.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Better not let them see or read current news!!

That's the truth.

 

[303gmf]

That's the truth.

My grandson has read and seen the horror of the 5 year old Liam Ramos all over, that’s what frightens kids

 

[iamshadow21]

That's the truth.

Also, most of these kids are probably sitting in half empty classrooms right now, because kids they know and are friends with are either hiding from or have been gooned by ICE, and there is no way they don't know that. Kids are aware of and talk about adult things, because they have absolutely no choice about living in a world where adult issues impact them.

MOP

 

[Friday Fan]

The Armenian Church was located in Dallas. The Greek church was in San Diego. As I mentioned, the signs appeared to be associated with the cultural festivals that they were throwing (printed on paper and taped up, mentioned in the festival info packet)

Neither of the churches had people stationed at the door. Rather, they seemed to rely on respect and that people would heed the signs they had taped up. I don't know what they did on regular Sundays.

From the 2025 festival: Attendees are invited to take a guided tour of the church, learn more about the rich history of the Armenian community, and visit the GameZone, where exciting prizes await participants

Armeniafest

Armenia Fest is our annual cultural and food festival organized by the Armenian community of the St. Sarkis Armenian Church taking place on the St. Sarkis Church grounds on 4421 Charles Street in...

www.armeniafest.com

That's because the churches themselves tend to be somewhat ornate and they don't want people running around the sanctuary when services are not going on. Orthodox churches tend to have strict liturgical protocal. Also Armenians themselves don't go into the sanctuary unless services are going on. (Unless they are preparing for a service etc)

I'm sure there are other churches that are like this. These churches may not be orthodox, but the logistics of keeping a sanctuary open when services are not ongoing is not practical for many small churches.

However, Armenian and Greek services are open to the public. The only Armenian Churches that are not open to the public are not in the United States.

 

[witchway]

I saw one or two in the very beginng, prob that day by a reporter, the woman said she had no idea about the church pastor being an ice member. Started me wondering what exactly was that particular church about. IMO

I believe that was the point of the protest, it was stated to inform others who they had as a pastor. jmo because I don’t have supporting facts at the moment.

 

[Summerliz03]

I believe that was the point of the protest, it was stated to inform others who they had as a pastor. jmo because I don’t have supporting facts at the moment.

I said this above, a few posts back, but Nekima Armstrong herself gives the reason during her interview with Chris Cuomo. Let me link to my post.

S

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

Today at 9:10 PM

My understanding is that the protest and story were focused on a member of the church who is also a federal agent. That is given by the organizers as the reason that they focused on the church. They believed that a federal agent was at the church.

As soon as they realized that the man at the centre of the journalistic story; the man who is both a church member and federal agent, was not in the church, they should have left. They no longer had any reason to pursue the journalistic story or the protest.

There was no one to interview inside or outside the church related to the protest...

• Summerliz03

• 

And I’m editing to link to Ms Armstrongs interview on Youtube where she clearly gives her reasons for protesting that specific church and what their message is.

 

[Cryptic]

From the 2025 festival: Attendees are invited to take a guided tour of the church, learn more about the rich history of the Armenian community, and visit the GameZone, where exciting prizes await participants

Armeniafest

Armenia Fest is our annual cultural and food festival organized by the Armenian community of the St. Sarkis Armenian Church taking place on the St. Sarkis Church grounds on 4421 Charles Street in...

www.armeniafest.com

I attended that Armenian festival as well. I go to alot of Church festivals.

But.... please note that Church is brand new- and as a side note, it has won several design awards. All that aside, the Church had a previous and much smaller location. During the year I visited, did not appear to be offering tours.

My guess is that the closed for non parish members was due to the fact that, as you mentioned protocols don't permit for anyone to wander around the sanctuary.

And... they probably did not want festival goers with varying degrees of genuine interest wandering into the nave, t (Catholic term) and trying the door to the sanctuary while slurping drinks and gobbling food.

 

[ab01]

I'm curious, Has there ever been a situation where a journalist has gone into a place of worship and participated in interrupting a church service. And by participated I mean asking the Minister, Pastor, Deacon, Priest etc questions with a camera and microphone in their face. I ask because I've searched and searched and all that comes up is this particular situation. Not saying it hasn't happened before but generally it seems to me this sort of thing is unheard of IMO. I never would have dreamed this was even a thing that could be justified even 10 yrs ago. I'm just curious where society draws the line, is this now deemed acceptable in this day and age that places of religion are no longer sacred regardless of political beliefs etc. It definitely feels like a slippery slope. It seems like a point in time that will shape how churches and congregations are respected moving forward. Is freedom of the press now more sacred in this country than freedom of religion? Personally I think the job of a journalist can be performed accurately and freely without encroaching on a place of worship specifically in a sanctuary with parishioners present. JMO

 

[Cryptic]

I can't decide if I think of the Church as private like a mall? Or private like my living room?

My total guess is that legally, Churches are.... private like your back yard.

To that effect, you can boot people unwelcome people fast and don't need give explanation. You have an expectation of privacy....even if you don't have 'Keep Out' signs posted, and have not formally asked ask people to leave. Likewise, you can instaneously change your entry policy sans the need to give a justification.

 

[ab01]

That sounds absurd!!

Actually that sounds exactly in line with what a young child would probably think while in a safe place of worship where there is a normal routine. There were likely large numbers of strangers standing up and yelling things they probably didn't understand. Seems pretty normal to me that they would be frightened and scared that something bad was about to happen. I'm not sure why that would be absurd to any rational thinking adult. MOO