But the protest, Lemon intimated, was a natural consequence of recent events. Minnesotans’ due process had been violated, he said. People were being brutalized.
“You have to be willing to go into places and disrupt and make people uncomfortable,” Lemon said, as demonstrators (many also recording) and worshipers circled one another in the confusion. “That is what this country is about.”
Lemon reappeared in the shot to interview an organizer, Nekima Levy Armstrong. Then he found the lead pastor.
“I mean, this is unacceptable,” Parnell said. “It’s shameful.”
“But there are folks who will say,” Lemon told him, as they began speaking over each other, “‘Listen, there’s a Constitution and a First Amendment.’”
“We’re here to worship,” Parnell said. His hand was near Lemon’s midsection, grazing him.
“I’m going to be very respectful,” Lemon said. “Please don’t push me, though.”
Parnell asked Lemon to leave unless he wanted to worship. “I have to take care of my church,” the pastor said.
[snip]
Finding himself alone, Lemon delivered a direct-to-camera recap (
“They won’t listen to facts”) with the congregant in earshot.
“No, no, no, no,” the man said, re-engaging.
“You pose as a journalist, and you ask me questions, and then you start correcting me” — he lifted both hands to scare-quote in heavy winter gloves — “with ‘facts.’”
‘I Am the News’: The Absurd Drama (and High Stakes) of the Don Lemon Affair
He wanted to, planned to, along with the protesters, disrupt service. It is literally from his own mouth (1st BBM)
last BBM, I think this parishioner had it exactly right IMO MOO big fat mooiest of cows.
