Former CNN host Don Lemon has appeared before a judge after being arrested for entering a Minnesota church and filming anti-immigration enforcement protesters as they disrupted a service. After appearing in court, Lemon was released from custody. He told media outside that he was arrested for covering the news, adding: 'I will not be silenced.' The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said he was charged with 'conspiracy to deprive rights' and 'violation of the FACE Act', by allegedly interfering in someone's First Amendment rights by force.
Lemon entered the Cities Church in St Paul on 18 January with protesters who claimed one of the pastors was an immigration enforcement official. He did not enter a plea in court.
'Last night the DOJ sent a team of federal agents to arrest me in the middle of the night for something that I have been doing for the last 30 years and that is covering the news,' Lemon stated. 'I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now.' He emphasized the significance of independent media during this critical moment, underscoring the need for accountability among those in power.
His arrest, part of a broader crackdown on protests against ICE, elicited profound concerns about press freedom. Lemon’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, denounced the charges as an attack on the First Amendment and promised a vigorous defense in court.
The incident highlights escalating tensions regarding immigration enforcement in the U.S., particularly in Minnesota, where protests have been ignited by recent controversial ICE operations. Secretary of the Department of Justice emphasized the administration's commitment to pursuing these charges. As the situation unfolds, Lemon's case raises pressing questions about journalists' rights and the government's role in limiting press freedoms.
Lemon entered the Cities Church in St Paul on 18 January with protesters who claimed one of the pastors was an immigration enforcement official. He did not enter a plea in court.
'Last night the DOJ sent a team of federal agents to arrest me in the middle of the night for something that I have been doing for the last 30 years and that is covering the news,' Lemon stated. 'I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now.' He emphasized the significance of independent media during this critical moment, underscoring the need for accountability among those in power.
His arrest, part of a broader crackdown on protests against ICE, elicited profound concerns about press freedom. Lemon’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, denounced the charges as an attack on the First Amendment and promised a vigorous defense in court.
The incident highlights escalating tensions regarding immigration enforcement in the U.S., particularly in Minnesota, where protests have been ignited by recent controversial ICE operations. Secretary of the Department of Justice emphasized the administration's commitment to pursuing these charges. As the situation unfolds, Lemon's case raises pressing questions about journalists' rights and the government's role in limiting press freedoms.
