Journalist Don Lemon (left) issues a statement to media outside federal court on Jan. 30, 2026 in Los Angeles.
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Independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort have pledged to continue their reporting efforts after being arrested while covering an anti-ICE protest at a church in Minnesota.
Lemon, a former CNN anchor, and Fort, a Minnesota reporter, were released from federal custody on Friday amidst widespread criticism from human rights advocates and journalism organizations regarding their arrests.
A federal grand jury in Minnesota indicted Fort and Lemon on charges related to the disruption of a religious service at the Cities Church in St. Paul, where a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official serves as a pastor. Both Fort and Lemon maintain that they were present as journalists reporting on the incident and not participating in the protest at the church.
During his YouTube show on Friday, Lemon emphasized the importance of journalists worldwide standing up for each other in the face of attempts to silence them. He stated, “I will not be silenced” in response to the events surrounding his arrest.
Fort, a Minnesota native, captured her arrest by federal agents at her home on video and later expressed her commitment to continuing to tell the stories of her community despite the chilling message sent by the arrests to the media industry.
Both Lemon and Fort have faced legal challenges following their arrests, with Lemon’s arrest initially declined by a federal magistrate judge due to lack of evidence. Attorneys for both journalists have vowed to vigorously defend against the charges brought against them.
Disclosure: This reporter and Don Lemon were colleagues at CNN from August 2019 to April 2023.
