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 an...