When Journalism, Protest & the First Amendment Collide: What Really Happened With Don Lemon at Cities Church?

When Journalism, Protest & the First Amendment Collide: What Really Happened With Don Lemon at Cities Church?

On January 18, 2026, a dramatic confrontation unfolded at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. A group of anti-ICE protesters walked into a Sunday worship service, chanting slogans like “ICE out!” and “Hands up! Don’t shoot!”,

citing federal immigration enforcement actions in the region and the death of Renee Good. They said their target was a pastor allegedly connected to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

Among those documenting the scene was independent journalist Don Lemon, 59, a former CNN anchor with a long media career now working on his own reporting ventures. Lemon livestreamed parts of the protest, interviewed participants and congregants, and narrated the actions to viewers—right in the sanctuary as the service was disrupted. 

Why Was Don Lemon Arrested?

In late January, federal prosecutors secured a grand jury indictment charging Lemon and eight others—including fellow journalist Georgia Fort and student Jerome Richardson, with federal civil rights crimes. The charges allege conspiracy against religious freedom and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a law meant to protect people’s right to religious worship and prevent obstruction or intimidation at places like clinics and houses of worship. 

Lemon was arrested at a hotel in Los Angeles by a large contingent of federal agents despite offering to surrender voluntarily, according to his own account. 

Why Were Protesters at That Church?

Protesters said they were outraged by federal immigration enforcement and believed the pastor at Cities Church was connected to ICE leadership in Minnesota. Activists, and some media reports, linked a pastor identified at Cities Church with ICE leadership, though reporting has not confirmed that the pastor is the same person holding an ICE post. 

The group’s intention was to call attention to immigration crackdowns and demand accountability for actions they viewed as unjust. That included disruption of a worship service open to the public. 

Was This a First Amendment Fight… or Something Else?

This is where the debate gets intense:

Supporters of Lemon’s actions argue:

• He was there in his role as a journalist—not as a protest organizer—and thus protected by the First Amendment (freedom of speech & press).
  
  

• Courts initially rejected an effort to charge him based on lack of probable cause, highlighting journalistic activity vs. criminal conduct.
  
  

• Media freedom groups say this could chill reporters from covering protests.
  
  

Critics argue:

• The protest was not purely coverage, Lemon was embedded with demonstrators and livestreamed from within the sanctuary.
  
  

• Federal law protects worshippers’ rights to practice religion without interference; storming a service crosses a line, they say.

Was Lemon Participating or Reporting?

This is central:

• Lemon insists he was recording as a journalist and not coordinating the protest.
  
  

• However, allegations in the indictment suggest involvement beyond neutral reporting, such as coordinating logistics or moving with the group.
  
  

• Some videos show Lemon interacting with members of the crowd and interviewing them live during the disruption.
  
  

Journalistic codes of ethics (such as the SPJ Code of Ethics) generally emphasize:

• Acting independently, avoiding involvement in protests one is covering.
  
  

• Avoiding conflicts of interest or actions that could make the journalist appear to be a participant rather than an observer.
  
  

• Minimizing harm, including respecting private spaces and not escalating tension.
  
  

On that score, critics argue Lemon may have blurred lines by entering the church with the protesters rather than covering from outside.

Should Lemon Have Been Inside the Church Service?

There’s a real legal wrinkle here:

• Churches and other worship spaces are private property even if open to the public. Entering with a political demonstration that stops a service can cross from reporting into participation or interference.
  
  

• That’s part of what prosecutors are arguing under federal civil rights law.
  
  

Other journalists and a Temple University student, Jerome Richardson, were also charged—raising questions about whether journalists should ever be charged in covering protests. 

What About Lemon’s Past Controversies?

Don Lemon’s career hasn’t been without headlines. He was fired from CNN in 2023 after multiple controversies and internal issues, including public disputes and criticism over workplace behavior. 

His media history factors into how audiences interpret this event, some see it as a seasoned journalist being targeted, others as someone who courts controversy.

Children & Churchgoers Caught in the Middle

Many parishioners, including children and families, were reportedly frightened when the protest entered during worship, raising a community concern about the impact of protests in sacred spaces.

---

A Question for the Community

Was Don Lemon protecting press freedom—or did he cross a line between reporting and participating?

Do you feel Lemon should face charges along with other protestors for interrupting a church service? Or does this reflect a broader threat to the First Amendment and journalistic independence?

👉 We want to hear your thoughts. Share your perspectives below.