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

[Hexe]

You opinion is not the opinion of the owner this site.

Wait, I got lost. Since when the question if Don Lemon's behaviour was fulfilling criteria for person acting as a journalist, is not the topic of this discussion?

 

[otto]

What is the source for that claim?

ETA:
Preseence or not of that preson during the protest eas the problem of the protesters. Not of the journalist, documenting that protest.

MOO

Let's go back to the stated objective of the protest again:

"The protest was to draw attention to the fact that a church minister at Cities Church in Saint Paul is affiliated with ICE."​

Nekima Levy Armstrong: Why We Protested at Cities Church in Saint Paul, and What Our Arrests Mean

Instead, Armstrong and Allen were taken to the Sherburne County Jail using three sets of restraints “as if we were hardened criminals and murderers. We had ankle shackles on our ankles, we had belly chains around our waist, and we had handcuffs with bars in the middle. As someone who majored in Af

www.womenspress.com

If the minister in question was not at the church at the time of the protest, and the intent of the protest was to draw attention to that minister, why did protesters use such heavy handed methods to communicate their opinion? Were they unable to think of more effective and respectful options for communication? Why didn't protesters wait until the end of the religious service and respectfully speak to the congregation? Why didn't they hand out notices?

If the intent was to confront the minister, then the protest makes sense, especially given behaviour of protesters inside the church. The protesters shocked the congregation.

How is it a big story that protesters are going to peacefully and respectfully tell a congregation that a man who is not in the church is a federal officer? It's not.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Wait, I got lost. Since when the question if Don Lemon's behaviour was fulfilling criteria for person acting as a journalist, is not the topic of this discussion?

His status as a journalist is not up for discussion.

 

[otto]

Can we please agree to disagree on whether Don Lemon is a journalist?

He was a CNN anchor. He’s won major awards for his reporting. The fact that he now works independently does not erase decades of professional journalism. Most people would still consider him a journalist.
Georgia Fort is also an Emmy Award-winning journalist. She has more than a decade of professional broadcast experience, has worked as both a reporter and anchor, and was one of only two journalists inside the courtroom for the Derek Chauvin sentencing. She is the founder of her own independent newsroom and continues to produce investigative reporting.
So from this point on, in this thread, both Lemon and Fort are to be treated as journalists.

A&E 'Biography' to Spotlight Bobby Brown for New Event & Docuseries

The series, which premiere in May, will take a look at the life of the R&B singer and ex-husband of Whitney Houston.

www.tvinsider.com

https://www.georgiafort.com/about
PS I know the above links are not MSM, but I have researched and have found through various other sources that the info is correct. If you find out anything differently and these links misrepresent their careers, please post so on this thread.

Bringing the above forward ...

"So from this point on, in this thread, both Lemon and Fort are to be treated as journalists."

 

[Hexe]

Let's go back to the stated objective of the protest again:

"The protest was to draw attention to the fact that a church minister at Cities Church in Saint Paul is affiliated with ICE."​

Nekima Levy Armstrong: Why We Protested at Cities Church in Saint Paul, and What Our Arrests Mean

Instead, Armstrong and Allen were taken to the Sherburne County Jail using three sets of restraints “as if we were hardened criminals and murderers. We had ankle shackles on our ankles, we had belly chains around our waist, and we had handcuffs with bars in the middle. As someone who majored in Af

www.womenspress.com

If the minister in question was not at the church at the time of the protest, and the intent of the protest was to draw attention to that minister, why did protesters use such heavy handed methods to communicate their opinion? Were they unable to think of more effective and respectful options for communication? Why didn't protesters wait until the end of the religious service and respectfully speak to the congregation? Why didn't they hand out notices?

If the intent was to confront the minister, then the protest makes sense, especially given behaviour of protesters inside the church. The protesters shocked the congregation.

What does that have to do with Lemon and his role as a journalist?

How is it a big story that protesters are going to peacefully and respectfully tell a congregation that a man who is not in the church is a federal officer? It's not.

Don Lemon is not exactly selling scoops to news agencies. His job as a reporter does not base only on getting "big stories" In this particular case the protest was not a big story in itself. It was just a piece of bigger story about a city hit by hard times and reacting to them. That was his big story. I mean, man, I am sitting here, in Poland, thousands and thousands of miles away and I want to know what's going on in Minneapolis.

Also, it is not a dead season, with nothing particilar happening in the US. Journos have piles upon piles of hot topics at their reach. No need to spice up things with one shocking protest (which is by far not the most shocking thing that happened in Minneapolis this year).

MOO

 

[Hexe]

His status as a journalist is not up for discussion.

No, it is not. But the question if his behaviour at the church fulfilled the criteria of a person acting as a journalist IS A TOPIC OF THIS THREAD.

MOO

 

[Snoopster]

I'm confused by so many comments on this thread. Perhaps it's because I am missing something and haven't followed the case closely.

Don Lemon is a journalist. He covered a protest...filming it and interviewing protestors and congregants. What crime did he commit?

 

[J. J. in Phila]

No, it is not. But the question if his behaviour at the church fulfilled the criteria of a person acting as a journalist IS A TOPIC OF THIS THREAD.

MOO

That is not really the right question. Is a journalist protected by the First Amendment if he goes with someone who commits a criminal act, before, during and after the event?

 

[J. J. in Phila]

I'm confused by so many comments on this thread. Perhaps it's because I am missing something and haven't followed the case closely.

Don Lemon is a journalist. He covered a protest...filming it and interviewing protestors and congregants. What crime did he commit?

He deprived others of their First Amendment rights.

 

[Snoopster]

He deprived others of their First Amendment rights.

Did he personally do that?

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Did he personally do that?

Yes, according to the indictment. In addition, both Lemon and Fort are charged with conspiring with other to do that; Fort is only charged with conspiracy.

 

[Summerliz03]

Yes, according to the indictment. In addition, both Lemon and Fort are charged with conspiring with other to do that; Fort is only charged with conspiracy.

The indictment is not a conviction and the prosecution now has the burden of presenting their evidence to prove this without a shadow of a doubt for the jury. I have seen nothing in their indictment that proves this, so without much more, stronger evidence, I don’t believe they have a very good case against Lemon or Fort. All IMO.

 

[Betty P]

This is criminal and that is why they are being charged.

That has yet to be determined.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

The indictment is not a conviction and the prosecution now has the burden of presenting their evidence to prove this without a shadow of a doubt for the jury. I have seen nothing in their indictment that proves this, so without much more, stronger evidence, I don’t believe they have a very good case against Lemon or Fort. All IMO.

I am aware of that, but that was not the question.

They have a very good case on Lemon, because there is video of him blocking people in the church. Conspiracy, which includes Fort,may need more evidence.

I suspect that the AG either has their electronic communications, or they someone inside, or both.

 

[Hexe]

He deprived others of their First Amendment rights.

How exactly?

 

[otto]

Comment:

Specifically, the goal of the protest was to confront a member of the church who works as a federal officer.

Question

What is the source for that claim?

Answer:

"The protest was to draw attention to the fact that a church minister at Cities Church in Saint Paul is affiliated with ICE."

Nekima Levy Armstrong: Why We Protested at Cities Church in Saint Paul, and What Our Arrests Mean

Instead, Armstrong and Allen were taken to the Sherburne County Jail using three sets of restraints “as if we were hardened criminals and murderers. We had ankle shackles on our ankles, we had belly chains around our waist, and we had handcuffs with bars in the middle. As someone who majored in Af

www.womenspress.com

Question:

What does that have to do with Lemon and his role as a journalist?

Answer: Nothing. Politely and respectfully informing a congregation that a member of their church is also a federal officer is not news.

 

[Inthedetails]

Journalists were not there to tell the congregation their pastor works for ICE. The journalists were there to gather information and document the situation to inform the public.


jmo

 

[J. J. in Phila]

That has yet to be determined.

No, that is the law. Just showing the relevant parts:

"Whomever, ...

(2)
by force or threat of force or by physical obstruction, intentionally injures, intimidates or interferes with or attempts to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship; or ...

shall be subject to the penalties provided in subsection (b) and the civil remedies provided in subsection (c), except that a parent or legal guardian of a minor shall not be subject to any penalties or civil remedies under this section for such activities insofar as they are directed exclusively at that minor."

18 U.S. Code § 248 - Freedom of access to clinic entrances

www.law.cornell.edu

It is an illegal act, like bank robbery.

 

[Hexe]

That is not really the right question. Is a journalist protected by the First Amendment if he goes with someone who commits a criminal act, before, during and after the event?

That's actually a bizarre question. If a person A goes somewhere with person B and person B decides to commit a crime, that does not make person A a criminal just by association.

And Don Lemon did not even walk into that church together with the protesters.

MOO

 

[J. J. in Phila]

How exactly?

Obstructing members of the congregation, intimidating and interfering with them.