The recent protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, involving former CNN host Don Lemon has caused quite a stir. The U.S. Department of Justice attempted to charge Lemon for his involvement in the anti-ICE protest, but a federal magistrate judge rejected the charges, much to the reported dismay of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
According to CNN, Lemon reported live from the protest at the church, where about 30 to 40 anti-ICE protesters disrupted the service to confront the church’s pastor, David Easterwood, who is a Minneapolis ICE official. Despite the chaos, Easterwood was not present during the protest.
The protest organizer was arrested following the incident, and the DOJ launched a criminal probe into the protest. DOJ Assistant AG for Civil Rights, Harmeet Dhillon, stated that every demonstrator who stormed the church was under federal investigation.
In a surprising turn of events, a judge ruled in Lemon’s favor, stating that the charges brought forth by the DOJ were not sufficient. This decision has reportedly angered Attorney General Bondi, who is currently meeting with federal prosecutors in Minnesota.
Although Lemon maintains that he was simply reporting on the news story, footage from his livestream shows him kissing the protest organizer on the cheek. This action could potentially be used by the feds to argue that Lemon was not merely an innocent bystander in the protest.
As the situation unfolds, it seems that the DOJ may need to reevaluate their approach in charging Lemon. We have reached out to the DOJ for comment but have not received a response at this time.
The Minnesota church protest involving Don Lemon has sparked a debate on the boundaries between journalism and activism, as well as the extent to which reporters can involve themselves in the events they cover. The outcome of this case could have implications for how journalists navigate similar situations in the future.
