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

[J. J. in Phila]

How Lemon entering the church aided the protesters?

It helped create the disruption.

It is interesting that there is a journalism code of ethics that states, "Balance the public’s need for information against potential harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance or undue intrusiveness." https://www.spj.org/pdf/spj-code-of-ethics.pdf

I do not know if Lemon is a member or not of the Society of Professional Journalists, that wrote the code.

 

[Ruminations]

It helped create the disruption.

It is interesting that there is a journalism code of ethics that states, "Balance the public’s need for information against potential harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance or undue intrusiveness." https://www.spj.org/pdf/spj-code-of-ethics.pdf

I do not know if Lemon is a member or not of the Society of Professional Journalists, that wrote the code.

Thank you for bringing this up.

The society of Profesional Journalists condemns his arrest.

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

www.spj.org

 

[Hexe]

It helped create the disruption.

Do I understand it correctly? A single man walking quietly into the church helped creating the disruption?

 

[witchway]

repeat, sorry dbm

 

[Inthedetails]

bbm

Grand juries rarely reject indictments. Establishing probable cause is a low standard, and prosecutors get to choose what evidence the grand jury will consider. ...

In the past, DOJ attorneys frequently made a career of representing the United States, adhering to the department’s core principles of independence, impartiality, principled discretion, fairness, and nonpartisanship. Hundreds of those attorneys have now left, taking with them wide swaths of institutional knowledge and expectations of how DOJ attorneys should serve the country. Their replacements are entering a department with leadership that expressly prioritizes adherence to the Trump administration’s political agenda. ...

Unsurprisingly, several courts have concluded that a DOJ that cannot be presumed to be acting in good faith should not be given the benefit of the doubt when the facts and arguments don’t add up.

The Department of Justice’s Broken Accountability System

The Trump administration has dismantled its internal checks on abuses of power, and courts are grappling with the consequences.

www.brennancenter.org

About the source:
Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law is a nonprofit law and policy institute that focuses on improving U.S systems of democracy and justice.

Brennan Center for Justice - Bias and Credibility

LEFT-CENTER BIAS These media sources have a slight to moderate liberal bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording

mediabiasfactcheck.com

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Has anyone found a copy of an Indictment that is signed by the foreperson of the GJ?

https://www.justice.gov/archives/jm/criminal-resource-manual-217-subscription

If yes, could you please link it up for us? That would be greatly appreciated.

Also, in response to queries we have received and to avoid any confusion, please note there are no Verified Insiders in this discussion. All members are therefore required to provide links to whatever they present as fact or very clearly state it is only their opinion (otherwise such posts are subject to removal).

SB

I did find one at the state level, but the blacked out. All others, I have three or four saved, are not signed.

They are signed when submitted to the judge, but we generally don't see them. I'm guessing that s what is.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Thank you for bringing this up.

The society of Profesional Journalists condemns his arrest.

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

www.spj.org

They noted that Lemon said, “I’m not here as an activist. I’m here as a journalist.” If his actions show that he was an activust, the issue is over.

 

[witchway]

They noted that Lemon said, “I’m not here as an activist. I’m here as a journalist.” If his actions show that he was an activust, the issue is over.

What about his actions showed him as a journalist? Is the issue in contention over?

 

[J. J. in Phila]

I did find one at the state level, but the blacked out. All others, I have three or four saved, are not signed.

They are signed when submitted to the judge, but we generally don't see them. I'm guessing that s what is.

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/95-1135 It is under the section on indictments.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

What about his actions showed him as a journalist? Is the issue in contention over?

The claim is that he was actively involved in the protest.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

What about his actions showed him as a journalist? Is the issue in contention over?

It is in the indictment. If Lemon is there as part of the protest, whether or not he was acting as a journalist at other points is immaterial.

 

[witchway]

It is in the indictment. If Lemon is there as part of the protest, whether or not he was acting as a journalist at other points is immaterial.

I would ask that you read what Ruminations supplied as a link from:

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

www.spj.org

“..Lemon clearly told viewers of his live online broadcast that he was at Cities Church in St. Paul to cover the demonstration, adding, “I’m not here as an activist. I’m here as a journalist.” That distinction matters because journalists routinely cover demonstrations and controversial gatherings as part of their duty to inform the public. Law enforcement should recognize and respect that role, not criminalize it. Arresting a journalist for reporting from a public demonstration undermines the First Amendment and sends a dangerous message to reporters nationwide…”

My opinion is that he and Georgia Fort were there as journalists.

 

[shotgun09]

Makes me wonder just how the actual victims in the church felt regarding Don Lemon.

Did they view, perceive or feel threatened by his actions that day? Were his actions perceived as behaving as a journalist or an activist? Or both? Or, does that matter?

My personal opinion is DL wore two hats that day. The journalist hat was underneath the activist hat. ( Also under a borrowed knitted hat and a hood for some time) And during the disruption, right in the middle of it, DL switched the placement of his hats, and put the journalist hat on the top. His actions, IMO were clearly deceptive and only added fuel to the proverbial fire. As in.. " SURPRISE !!! It's Don Lemon interviewing YOU , you church goers! Right inside your now interrupted church service! Live!!! "

Can you imagine the shock as a praying church congregation comes to realize not only are we interrupted by a loud frightening and intimidating protest, but now, after removing the hood and cap.. "Is that Don Lemon?" ( Wearing his journalist hat on the top ) " Why is HE here?"

Kids were crying in fear, parents were stunned into protection mode, half the congregants fled to the doors to escape the mayhem, and here comes Don Lemon !!?? Really, dude? You thought this was a good idea for a story, "LIVE" ????

Did Don Lemon know and expect chaos and disruption Inside an ACTIVE Church Service would cause fear and terror? I think he did.
I believe he said "that is the purpose". And, I believe he wanted to be a part of it, regardless of which hat he was wearing.

MOO and Peace

 

[J. J. in Phila]

I would ask that you read what Ruminations supplied as a link from:

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

www.spj.org

“..Lemon clearly told viewers of his live online broadcast that he was at Cities Church in St. Paul to cover the demonstration, adding, “I’m not here as an activist. I’m here as a journalist.” That distinction matters because journalists routinely cover demonstrations and controversial gatherings as part of their duty to inform the public. Law enforcement should recognize and respect that role, not criminalize it. Arresting a journalist for reporting from a public demonstration undermines the First Amendment and sends a dangerous message to reporters nationwide…”

My opinion is that he and Georgia Fort were there as journalists.

Lemon can say anything, but it depends on his actions.