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

[tricia]

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.

Hey PrairieWind.
I have to get ready for the YouTube livestream, but I want to come back later tonight and address this.
No one that I have seen is saying that because he is an ICE agent, he is a white nationalist, and so is his church.
If someone actually says this, please alert on the post. However, there is proof of his ties to white nationalism, as well as some of the higher-ups in his church. I am not talking about the congregation. Again. I will get you all the links and such later tonight after the livestream. Thank you for your patience.

 

[Ruminations]

Was Don Lemon entitled to some other special grand jury process for celebrities? or journalists?

I am not a lawyer. But, no.

Whether the target is famous or unknown, a journalist or a protester, a grand jury is convened to review the prosecution's evidence to determine if there is enough evidence to charge a "target." The grand jury is presented with the elements of the crime, and behaviors that they think they can prove occurred.

The jurors only look at what the prosecutor shows them. There is no defense presented. The "defense" indeed often does not know that the grand jury convened about them.

In this situation, the primary defense might be that Don Lemon is a journalist. And it is probable that the prosecutor did not mention this to the grand jury. Even if some jurors are familiar with his work, their job is not to figure out defenses.

It's a low bar to get a grand jury to agree to indict. That's why many prosecutors decide not to do so, even after a GJ approval.

MOO

 

[Ruminations]

Did he leave when asked to leave?

No.

Not leaving after you've been asked to leave the premises is in fact refusing to leave.

If someone asks me to take a bite of spinach and I won't open my mouth, I am in fact refusing to eat the spinach.

I don't have to say, "No, I'm not going to eat this spinach."

When LE orders an armed criminal to drop their weapon, and the criminal continues to hang onto the gun, they are in fact refusing to drop their weapon. They don't have to say, "No, I will not drop my weapon" for LE to conclude they're not following lawful orders.

Non-compliance with a request is in fact refusing to follow it.

DL was asked to leave. He did not do so when asked.

Impeding. Interfering. Obstructing.

That's not journalism.

JMO.

Wow.

A church official isn't LE.

No protester was carrying a weapon.

This was not a private party, it was a church service open to the pubic. Rescinding the invitation might require a bit more conversation than asking an assailant to drop a weapon.

This analogy is quite the reach.

MOO

 

[witchway]

They thought a coordinated invasion of the church, while engaging in acts of oppression, intimidation, threats, interference, and physical obstruction was a good idea. ( imo and from the indictment that includes Don Lemon).

The only peaceful people that day, were the congregants, who accepted strangers among them. Don Lemon had the nerve to ask the pastor if they were not allowed to worship. Why didn’t the just sit quietly and worship?

Because Don Lemon is a reporter like it or not and was reporting on the protest. jmo

 

[Izzylizzy]

I don’t think it was legitimate. I looked at James Comey’s indictment and its stamped under seal and the foreperson’s signature is somewhat covered up. But it is signed by the prosecutor. However the indictment presented to the press for Lemon and others is totally blank for those places. 2 different states so who knows. But I have had doubts all along.

source: james comey indictment (last page)
https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2025/09/comey-indictment.pdf

Don Lemon Indictment page 14 Don Lemon indictment


This is my opinion only

Thank you.
Off to check it out,

 

[tricia]

Let's do a Monty Hall shall we? LET'S MAKE A DEAL.
Let's agree that some people think Don Lemon is a great journalist and some people think he is the worst thing since the new Darrin replaced the old Darrin on Bewitched. In other words, some people think Lemon is good, others think he is awful.
DEAL?
Was Lemon there reporting or participating? That is the question.
Thank you
P.S. Shameless plug for our Websleuths YouTube LIVE tonight. We will be discussing the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie. We go live at 10:30 PM Eastern. CLICK HERE to join us.

 

[Magic8Ball]

Wow.

A church official isn't LE.

No protester was carrying a weapon.

This was not a private party, it was a church service open to the pubic. Rescinding the invitation might require a bit more conversation than asking an assailant to drop a weapon.

This analogy is quite the reach.

MOO

Churches are private property. Legally.

There was no spinach at the church, either. Not sure why that matters.

Because analogy.

 

[Ruminations]

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

Some of out peers on this thread are not clear on which jurisdiction enforces which law.

It the church has every right to request local LE assistance for local laws.

MOO

 

[Ruminations]

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

Children should not have to deal with adult problems, full stop.

MOO

 

[tricia]

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?

IMO No.
The question is, if there were reporters covering it, should they be charged in the same way as the people entering the Mosque?
This thread is not about the protesters as it is about the right of the press to report on an event. However, we have to allow some discussion of the protesters, what they did and why they were protesting. It is a part of the discussion but not the main part.
The implications of arresting two reporters who were not shouting and interrupting, but were filming in their capacity as reporters, yet they were charged just the same. That is what worries me.
The protesters were charged. That doesn't surprise me. Let them defend themselves in court.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

Because Don Lemon is a reporter like it or not and was reporting on the protest. jmo

He was reporting on a protest he was participating in. imo

 

[Rolypolyoly]

He was reporting on a protest he was participating in. imo

In what way did he participate in the protest?

 

[Tutter]

We are all private citizens but if we are also public servants who speak publicly and are the subject of a protest by citizens, where is the expectation of privacy?

A protest organizer has stated that the reason for the protest was to shed light on the fact the pastor is an agent for ICE. Given that information and the fact that he is a public figure, why are people so averse to discussing what is perceived by members of the public to be a major conflict of interest?

(IMO, it's pretty Ironic that under the current administration the law was changed to allow ICE agents to enter the sanctity of a church to apprehend individuals they consider being in the country illegally. I wonder how many of those people attend the Cities Church.)

So what would you think if the leader of ICE ran an abortion clinic? Is it ok for the protesters to go in there and protest inside the clinic so everyone would know who was in charge?

 

[Tutter]

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

He is a federal officer upholding the laws of the US. ?

 

[Ontario Mom]

Hey PrairieWind.
I have to get ready for the YouTube livestream, but I want to come back later tonight and address this.
No one that I have seen is saying that because he is an ICE agent, he is a white nationalist, and so is his church.
If someone actually says this, please alert on the post. However, there is proof of his ties to white nationalism, as well as some of the higher-ups in his church. I am not talking about the congregation. Again. I will get you all the links and such later tonight after the livestream. Thank you for your patience.

I'm a part of this Christian community and this is quite honestly stunning news to me.

Can you please share the links that document the pastor's ties to white nationalism, as well as some of the higher ups in the church, as you've stated?

ETA: as an aside, I've asked twice now and have not seen any clarity on this.
IS this pastor considered a victim by WS standards?

He's named as such in the charging docs, called "Victim #1", so I'm just asking for some clarity.

 

[branmuffin]

But the congregants did attend the church right? 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. Honestly, I think FAR more serious charges could be coming in the future.

But did they know he was an ICE administrator?

 

[Tutter]

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

What about other law enforcement? Are they ‘hunting’ people as they enforce laws?

 

[SouthAussie]

He is a federal officer upholding the laws of the US. ?

The thing is, this protest happened 11 days after an ICE person shot Renee Good 3-5 times (depending which source you read) in Minneapolis. The city was outraged that a US citizen was killed by ICE. Was shot multiple times.

David Easterwood is the Field Director for ICE operations in Minneapolis/St Paul. Also a pastor of that church.

The protesters were chanting about the killing of Renee, in the church.

It is a very emotional situation for the people of Minneapolis.

imo

 

[SilentHill]

What about other law enforcement? Are they ‘hunting’ people as they enforce laws?

Who? ICE? IMO that's exactly what they are doing and killing lawful citizens in the process too.