Don Lemon Arrested After Minnesota Church Protest, Sparking Press Freedom Backlash

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested Thursday night by federal agents in Los Angeles, charged with alleged civil rights crimes for his role covering a protest that erupted inside a Minnesota church earlier this month, federal officials announced.

Attorney General Pam Bondi took to X on Friday to confirm that Lemon, 59, along with Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort and Jamael Lydell Lundy, was detained “in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.” The Department of Homeland Security says the charges include conspiracy and interference with worshipers’ constitutional rights.

Lemon was in Los Angeles to cover the Grammy Awards when agents with the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations arrested him just before midnight, according to court filings. Scene Inside Minnesota Church

The case centers on a Jan. 18 demonstration in St. Paul against immigration enforcement. Protesters marched into Cities Church during a worship service, chanting against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and demanding accountability for the recent fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a federal agent, according to DHS statements and reporting from the scene.

Lemon livestreamed the event on his independent media platform, interviewing participants and churchgoers. Federal officials say some protest actions may have obstructed worship, citing the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act to justify charges. Defense and First Amendment Criticism

Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, condemned the arrest, calling it an effort to distract from broader issues and an attack on press freedoms. He said Lemon intends to fight the charges in court.

Civil liberties groups and media advocates have voiced alarm. The Committee to Protect Journalists said the arrest raises critical questions about free speech and the press in the U.S. Broader Backlash from Advocates

The National Black Justice Collective also weighed in with strong language. Dr. David J. Johns, NBJC’s CEO and executive director, called the arrest a “deeply troubling escalation” and an example of government power used to “suppress dissent.” Johns said targeting journalists, especially Black and LGBTQ+ voices, sends a chilling message that accountability reporting carries “state imposed retribution.” He called for the release of Lemon and the others and the dismissal of all charges, adding, “Journalism is not a crime, and no administration should be permitted to criminalize truth-telling.” (Statement provided by the user)

GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis similarly criticized the move, saying the government’s actions erode democratic norms and intimidate journalists reporting on issues of national concern.

“Journalists are under siege in America by our own government. The arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort have alarmed citizens nationwide, who do not want American freedoms and the rule of law to be replaced by harassment and state-sponsored disinformation. The freedom of the press is a cornerstone of American democracy, but that pillar is being shockingly eroded by government intimidation.” National Protests and Political Fallout

Lemon’s arrest has come as protests linked to immigration enforcement in Minnesota have spread nationwide, with student walkouts and calls for a “general strike” in multiple cities. Organizers are urging demonstrations against what they describe as aggressive federal tactics in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, where authorities have deployed thousands of agents and made widespread arrests under immigration law.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined the chorus of critics, contacting federal prosecutors about Lemon’s situation and insisting the arrest does not de-escalate tensions following recent shooting deaths tied to immigration enforcement actions. Implications for Press Freedom

Lemon’s arrest, one of the most high-profile involving a journalist in recent years, underscores deepening national debates over protest rights, media protections and how federal law applies during demonstrations. As court proceedings begin, free-speech advocates are watching closely, arguing that prosecuting reporters could have chilling effects on independent journalism and civic discourse.

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