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

[tricia]

Are you posting here as a poster or administrator? And are you going to shut me down because we disagree?

Hey PraireWind
Let me assure you. If I thought for one minute that SillyBilly would shut you down for disagreeing with you, SB would not be an administrator.
While SB can have their opinion, I read their posts as an attempt to answer your questions about who we treat as public or private citizens.
Websleuths would never pull a private citizen out into the public for discussion. We only discuss people who have been named in mainstream media, as the preacher has been.
However, SB can also offer their opinion on whether someone is a public or private citizen, and their opinion happens to align with our rules.
I hope this explains things
Tricia

 

[303gmf]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

I’m discussing why the over the top victim think of this ICE agent, is that not allowed?
We’ve all seen what they are capable of and how they are trained
His appearance with Noem makes him a fair target as well as the white nationalist agenda

 

[witchway]

How did Don Lemon victimize David Easterwood?
How did Don Lemon traumatize children in the church?

I have seen these statements over and over but I can’t see where. When things are mentioned in the indictment as evidence of this, it's always about others that were there protesting. I read opinions as well. Well we all know about opinions everyone has one just like an……

I think thats one of the problems with this indictment, Don Lemon and Georgia Fort should not have been lumped in with a group.

Specific clear examples please.

JMO

 

[Ontario Mom]

Hey PraireWind
Let me assure you. If I thought for one minute that SillyBilly would shut you down for disagreeing with you, SB would not be an administrator.
While SB can have their opinion, I read their posts as an attempt to answer your questions about who we treat as public or private citizens.
Websleuths would never pull a private citizen out into the public for discussion. We only discuss people who have been named in mainstream media, as the preacher has been.
However, SB can also offer their opinion on whether someone is a public or private citizen, and their opinion happens to align with our rules.
I hope this explains things
Tricia

Can you please clarify if WS considers the pastor of Cities Church a victim, and is afforded the same "victim friendly" respect and consideration here, as any other victim?

 

[PrairieWind]

I’m discussing why the over the top victim think of this ICE agent, is that not allowed?
We’ve all seen what they are capable of and how they are trained
His appearance with Noem makes him a fair target as well as the white nationalist agenda

So because he is an ICE agent (federal agent) he is a white nationalist, and his church is as well? That is what you are advocating. And supporting the attack on his church and its members.

 

[moonglow123]

I haven’t kept up, is there video of Lemon physically obstructing people or preventing them from leaving? The videos I’ve seen show him interviewing people pretty calmly.

He doesn’t meet the first few parameters of the FACE Act - violence/force/threat of force, so I’m assuming they’d be attempting to get him on physical obstruction.

Is there proof he specifically was physically obstructing people?

I could see trespassing charges but accusing Lemon of violating the FACE Act seems too overblown.

 

[witchway]

So because he is an ICE agent (federal agent) he is a white nationalist, and his church is as well? That is what you are advocating. And supporting the attack on his church and its members.

David Easterwood is an Acting Director for the St, Paul, MN Field Office in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

He is also listed as Pastor for Cities Church in St. Paul, MN.

source CSPAN and church website Leadership | Cities Church

 

[AppleTreeGreen]

How did Don Lemon victimize David Easterwood?
How did Don Lemon traumatize children in the church?

I have seen these statements over and over but I can’t see where. When things are mentioned in the indictment as evidence of this, it's always about others that were there protesting. I read opinions as well. Well we all know about opinions everyone has one just like an……

I think thats one of the problems with this indictment, Don Lemon and Georgia Fort should not have been lumped in with a group.

Specific clear examples please.

JMO

I really like your comment.

Interesting enough I think Judge Schiltz would agree with you based on a comment in his email to the DOJ. He stated that he thought the DOJ lumped all 8 protestors together even though 2 of them are journalists and not protesters at all. This email was sent while he was still in the process of responding to DOJ’s petition for an appeal. It is filed under the court documents.

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72185493/00805439055/in-re-united-states-of-america/

JMO

 

[PrairieWind]

How did Don Lemon victimize David Easterwood?
How did Don Lemon traumatize children in the church?

I have seen these statements over and over but I can’t see where. When things are mentioned in the indictment as evidence of this, it's always about others that were there protesting. I read opinions as well. Well we all know about opinions everyone has one just like an……

I think thats one of the problems with this indictment, Don Lemon and Georgia Fort should not have been lumped in with a group.

Specific clear examples please.

JMO

There is no question that Nekima Levy Armstrong organized a group to invade and obstruct a religious service. She admits it in her interview with DL. That is her intent. DL should have at that time known this was an illegal act. He claims he didnt know the target, but obviously by the time they arrive at the church, it is clear what is happening. He chooses to enter the church himself. He himself interferes with the service by interviewing the pastor and refusing to leave as directed. His occupation as a journalist is irrelevant.

 

[PrairieWind]

David Easterwood is an Acting Director for the St, Paul, MN Field Office in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

source CSPAN

And that justifies an attack on his chruch?

 

[Summerliz03]

I think thats one of the problems with this indictment, Don Lemon and Georgia Fort should not have been lumped in with a group.

Specific clear examples please.

JMO

Personally I think lumping Don and Georgia into the indictment with the protestors was a very specific strategy of the DOJ in order to even get a grand jury to indict them. By removing them of their agency of being journalists, it muddies the water. We’ve even seen it in this thread where people are claiming Don did something but the indictment clearly shows that it was William Kelly or Nekima Armstrong. Until the DOJ can prove that Don Lemon was a protester AND broke the FACE act with any of his actions, they have zero case. And I’m pretty sure they know that. All MOO.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

So because he is an ICE agent (federal agent) he is a white nationalist, and his church is as well? That is what you are advocating. And supporting the attack on his church and its members.

I’m shocked that the church isn’t considered a victim in this. I don’t know what to think about that. imo

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Personally I think lumping Don and Georgia into the indictment with the protestors was a very specific strategy of the DOJ in order to even get a grand jury to indict them. By removing them of their agency of being journalists, it muddies the water. We’ve even seen it in this thread where people are claiming Don did something but the indictment clearly shows that it was William Kelly or Lekima Armstrong. Until the DOJ can prove that Don Lemon was a protester AND broke the FACE act with any of his actions, they have zero case. And I’m pretty sure they know that. All MOO.

Just call yourself a reporter while breaking the law and hope that gives you immunity, imo. He wasn’t there as a neutral reporter and it’s very obvious. imo

 

[Izzylizzy]

You don’t believe the spoken words of the woman who planned the protest for plainly stating why they wanted to protest the church? Even if you don’t agree with her, her beliefs or her actions, she’s telling you the reason SHE and her group wanted to protest the church. She wanted the parishioners of the church and the general public to know that one of the pastors there was employed by ICE. That’s literally it.

I would think that parishioners of a church would want their pastor's professional life to reflect what that pastor teaches in their church.
imo

 

[PrairieWind]

Personally I think lumping Don and Georgia into the indictment with the protestors was a very specific strategy of the DOJ in order to even get a grand jury to indict them. By removing them of their agency of being journalists, it muddies the water. We’ve even seen it in this thread where people are claiming Don did something but the indictment clearly shows that it was William Kelly or Nekima Armstrong. Until the DOJ can prove that Don Lemon was a protester AND broke the FACE act with any of his actions, they have zero case. And I’m pretty sure they know that. All MOO.

But do you understand why the Journalist label isn't a defense here? If DL is obstructing the service, he is violating the FACE Act, it doesnt matter if he is a journalist. Even journalists have to follow the law. DL whether he thought so or not, was violating the FACE Act. He was interfering and obstructing.

 

[witchway]

And that justifies an attack on his chruch?

How did Don Lemon attack this church?

 

[PrairieWind]

I would think that parishioners of a church would want their pastor's professional life to reflect what that pastor teaches in their church.
imo

That is up to the church, correct? Or do protesters get to determine what doctrines any certain church can follow? Do we invade mosques because we don't like how they treat women?

 

[Summerliz03]

But do you understand why the Journalist label isn't a defense here? If DL is obstructing the service, he is violating the FACE Act, it doesnt matter if he is a journalist. Even journalists have to follow the law. DL whether he thought so or not, was violating the FACE Act. He was interfering and obstructing.

Sure, if you have seen evidence that he violated the FACE act. I personally have not seen anything that shows me he has done that. Interviewing people is not obstructing them, IMO. Obstruction is different than trespassing. I can see how he could be charged with a trespassing charge by the church.

 

[Summerliz03]

Just call yourself a reporter while breaking the law and hope that gives you immunity, imo. He wasn’t there as a neutral reporter and it’s very obvious. imo

I couldn’t just call myself a reporter because I do not have press credentials and a 30 year career in journalism. Why are we still debating if Don Lemon is a journalist?

 

[PrairieWind]

Sure, if you have seen evidence that he violated the FACE act. I personally have not seen anything that shows me he has done that. Interviewing people is not obstructing them, IMO. Obstruction is different than trespassing. I can see how he could be charged with a trespassing charge by the church.

This is a scheduled worship service. DL is putting a microphone into the face of the paster asking him questions. This is obviously not what the pastor would be doing at the point otherwise. he is part of a group that has clogged the entrances and is arguing with the congregation. The congregation must leave by the side doors. Previous FACE ACT case law says that this is obstruction. Again, the elements of the crime in regard to DL are met.