Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has been arrested over an anti-ICE protest that took place in a Minnesota church during Sunday services last week.
“Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards,” according to a statement attributed to Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell. “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done. The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing this work.”
Lemon, who now hosts a show on YouTube and other social platforms, was on a livestream that began outside the church in St. Paul, but followed protestors a they went inside, alleging that a church official also worked at a local ICE office. The journalist proceeded to interview protestors, congregants and a pastor during the protest.
The blowback to the protest was swift, and there are laws (most notably the FACE Act) that make it a crime to obstruct someone from practicing their religion, which would almost certainly apply to a Sunday church service.
Of course, America also has robust First Amendment protections, making this case a potential landmark one as the right to free exercise of religion and the right to freedom of the press collide.
Shortly after the protest, Lemon became a target of conservative influencers and politicians, many of them demanding his arrest over what they saw on the stream. Other protestors involved in the protest were arrested last week, though a magistrate judge at the time refused to sign on to the initial charges.
In interviews after the protest, Lemon said that he was covering it as a journalist, speaking to anyone willing to talk with him.
“Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time, attention and resources to this arrest, and that is the real indictment of wrongdoing in this case,” Lowell added. “This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand. Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.”
