Don Lemon, a former CNN host turned independent journalist, is facing federal civil rights charges alongside four others following a protest at a Minnesota church. The protest was directed at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official serving as pastor at the church.
As Lemon entered the courthouse for arraignment, he declined to make comments to the media. In addition, civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong was also scheduled to appear in court. Armstrong became a subject of controversy after a manipulated photo appeared on official White House social media, inaccurately depicting her as crying during her arrest. This incident occurred amid a broader wave of AI-edited imagery related to ICE activities following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Lemon’s legal representation, attorney Joe Thompson, did not respond to requests for comment. It is expected that arraignments will involve pleas and scheduling of subsequent hearings. Lemon has indicated he intends to plead not guilty.
Two additional defendants from the same protest are set to be arraigned next week, including journalist Georgia Fort. In total, nine individuals face charges related to the incident. The demonstration took place on January 18 at Cities Church, disrupting a service with chants of “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good.” This chant referenced Good, a 37-year-old mother fatally shot by an ICE officer.
In his statement to reporters post-arrest, Lemon emphasized his commitment to journalism, asserting the importance of independent media in holding power accountable. He was present at the protest to document the event for his livestream show and has distanced himself from the activist group involved.
The protest has sparked considerable backlash from conservative political and religious leaders. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the administration will not tolerate harassment in places of worship, while even some clergy who oppose the government’s immigration policies expressed discomfort with the situation.
The nine defendants are charged under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994, which prohibits obstruction of individuals exercising their First Amendment rights in religious spaces. Convictions under this act can result in up to a year in prison and fines reaching $10,000.
In light of the protest and broader immigration enforcement actions, several former prosecutors in Minnesota have resigned in frustration. Among them is Thompson, who led significant fraud investigations within the U.S. Attorney’s Office until his departure last month. The Trump administration has pointed to these fraud cases, primarily involving individuals from the state’s Somali community, as rationale for its stringent immigration policies.