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

[CSIDreamer]

As sillybilly said in an earlier post, someone (presumably a judge, and not us) is going to need to decide how long after being asked to leave you must leave. Reportedly, Don left the building within 7 minutes, and left the church property within 13 minutes.

He did leave. He did not stage a sit-in. He did not refuse to leave.

imo

It seems to me you are trespassing when you are asked to leave. He actively, and knowingly (that's intent), trespassed for at least 13 minutes. JMO

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Lemon was a professional journalist until 2023. Since then, he created a youtube channel where he publishes independent journalism.

In my opinion, the difference between a professional journalist and independent journalist is similar to other professions. When no longer employed in the profession, then professional ethics and standards are voluntary.

I completely disagree. Independent journalists can also be professional journalists. The word "professional" only describes whether or not they make a living at what they do. There have also been many "professional journalists" working for legitimate media outlets who have not adhered to professional ethics and standards.

That is not to suggest that Mr Lemon did not continue to adhere to professional journalism ethics and standards, only that he could no longer be held accountable to a governing body for violating those ethics and standards.

Of course he could. The courts and the public would hold him accountable. Defamation suits are born out of irresponsible journalism.

Would a professional journalist know that entering a church with a camera/ microphone (and a group of loud disruptive people) during a religious meeting could be interpreted as violating the FACT Act? Would a professional journalist take a chance and do it anyway?

Actually, yes. This isn't the first time a journalist has covered a crime and I have yet to see evidence that the act of covering the crime is breaking the law itself. I see what the government claims, but their supposition is based on the belief that he actually participated. From what's been linked in this thread (including a link I provided), professional journalism organizations, including the Society for Professional Journalists, have all backed him. I don't think they would have done that if what he did went against journalistic ethics and standards.

MOO.

SPJ strongly condemns arrests of journalists covering anti-ICE demonstration in Minnesota | Society of Professional Journalists

www.spj.org

 

[SouthAussie]

It seems to me you are trespassing when you are asked to leave. He actively, and knowingly (that's intent), trespassed for at least 13 minutes. JMO

I have asked OP for a quoted link. So they can show what MN law says. I don't think the time frame has been determined yet. Just speculated upon.

imo

 

[Rolypolyoly]

It came to a halt and DL was part of that. Does DL get to make that determination of when the service is ended?

No, he wasnt a part of that. He didn't disrupt the service.
Yes, I think it was a fair assumption by him that the service was over at the point the protestors halted it.

At one point, defendant LEMON posted himself at the main door of the Church, where he confronted some congregants and physically obstructed them as they tried to exit the Church building to challenge them with “facts” about immigration policy.

The man with the beard in the hat that was happily speaking with him at the door walked away perfectly fine and unobstructed by DL or anyone else once he decided he had enough of Lemons questioning.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

It is US legislation. I'll take the words at face value. If the words were meant to be ambiguous, wouldn't that exception be explained?

https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/636

But it's not about taking them at face value vs not. When you say it's illegal to intimidate parishoners, what do you consider intimidating? If I just show up to learn about Christianity and roll my eyes, would someone call that intimidating? Would I be arrested for that? If I show up and fall asleep, someone might consider that intimidating. If I show up holding a Quaran, would that be intimidating? Yes, it's part of US legislation, but the point of the court system is the interpret the law as it applies to the case. If it was black and white, there would be no such thing as appeals or a Supreme Court.

MOO.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Regarding the FACE Act, Trump of course pardoned 23 people convicted under the law for interfering with access to abortion clinics.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/23/trump-pardons-abortion-clinic-protesters-00200292

The DOJ also said they would no longer prosecute any FACE Act violations except for severe cases.

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/09/g-s1-52616/abortion-face-act-access-enforcement

Instead, the Justice Department now says it will no longer enforce violations of the statute, except in extraordinary circumstances — such as cases involving death or serious property damage.

I haven't heard that there was any serious damage nor any deaths during this protest. As if consistency or integrity matters with this ridiculous, weaponized DOJ where prosecutions are for political purposes foremost. moo

Thank you for posting this. I hadn't heard about it. It's a perfect example of what happens when you politicize an issue like this rather than applying the law fairly to all. And that goes for all sides.

MOO.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

No idea. My focus is Don Lemon.

And that's the problem, because if Don Lemon can prove that the law is not being applied fairly against everyone there, he has a better shot of proving this was personal retribution.

MOO.

 

[witchway]

I think Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward, and Daniel Ellsberg would all disagree. I think it's up to each of us to determine what makes a credible journalist. There's a reason the press has more freedoms than the rest of us. MOO.

I just spoke with a neighbor of mine that was (now retired) journalist from a local news station. Also, now is a minister. He has some great stories, but thats beside the point. I asked him some questions regarding the issues raised here. His answer simply is as a journalist you go where the story is. A church, anywhere it does not matter, because thats where the action is period. You are an observer and reporter. He said this whole thing - indictment was to intimidate press. He spoke about trespassing laws, and said well an expletive. Freedom of the press is very important. So thats his 2 cents.

 

[Rolypolyoly]

the correct answer is "immediately." The fact that DL stayed 2 minutes or 7 or 13 is evidence that he was part of the demonstration.
It doesn't matter if you are a journalist, if you are asked to leave private property, you leave. You have no right to remain after that moment.

Its not evidence that he was part of the demonstration at all, at best it is evidence he was trespassing, after the point he was asked to leave which he hasn't as yet been charged for.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Would it be ok for a white male or group thereof, to walk into a mosque at the beginning of prayers, begin yelling and prevent the prayers, for the purpose of telling those in attendance that a member of their mosque was an employee of a government agency? And then refuse to leave until the prayer service was abandoned?

Well, Don Lemon didn't do that. He only covered the people who did that, as far as I know.

MOO.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Is Grand Jury not the correct way for a federal indictment?

But you are listening to argument from a biased group, the journalists. Do we all agree that we all must obey the law? Yes. If DL broke the law, is he not subject to indictment? Yes. And the grand jury so found.

Many people who've been indicted by a GJ had their cases dismissed or were found not guilty. So GJ means little, especially when this administration has lost credibility with GJs.

MOO.

 

[Inthedetails]

BBM:


Gov. Tim Walz sent a letter today to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, demanding details about the number of children being held in detention facilities and urging the federal agency to stop enforcement tactics that place children at risk.

Live: Judge orders release of suspects in alleged shovel attack on agent

Department of Homeland Security says agent fired in self-defense after being attacked with a snow shovel and broom.

www.startribune.com

 

[CSIDreamer]

I have asked OP for a quoted link. So they can show what MN law says. I don't think the time frame has been determined yet. Just speculated upon.

imo

Why do you think there's a time frame? I'm genuinely curious.

 

[Izzylizzy]

I'm curious if Pam Bondi presented the case to the Grand Jury ?

 

[SouthAussie]

Why do you think there's a time frame? I'm genuinely curious.

It was an interesting point brought up by sillybilly in a previous post.
If there may be impediments to a person immediately leaving. If there may be other factors involved. I wonder what the MN law says. Or if it is a judgement call made by a judge.

imo

 

[303gmf]

So an agent that works for ICE, who goes to work, does his/her job, should be outed and shamed? And you know that that means they will be attacked in public. That is ok with you? Or did you mean, those ICE agents that you think break the law should be outed and shamed? Because that isn't what you said.

Again, Pretzel logic
Post after post refuting the position and opinions

Hunting human beings as a job with a sideline as a pastor or whatever church title he claims
Again, WWJD? Wasn’t he a darker skinned foreigner?

 

[Hexe]

DL whether he thought so or not, was violating the FACE Act. He was interfering and obstructing.

How? He started commenting and interviewing people only after the protest already disrupted the service. So how was he disrupting a service that already ended due to disruption? What exactly was he obstructing?

 

[Hexe]

And that bothered the militants who then decided that it was their job to attack that church and make it dangerous to the congregants to attend.

How did they exactly made it dangerous? By chanting?

 

[Hexe]

It came to a halt and DL was part of that.

Give me any evidence of DL being part of it, please.

 

[Hexe]

Don Lemon is doing that on his own.

That's what "independent journalist" means.