Feds Arrest 4 Black People—Including Don Lemon—Over ICE Protest
Federal agents arrested two black journalists — Don Lemon and independent Minnesota journalist Georgia Fort — as well as two black activists on Thursday evening.
“At my direction, early this morning, federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. wrote. “More details soon.”
Each person arrested was linked to an anti-ICE protest at a St. Paul church earlier this month. It’s unclear what they will be charged with and it appears they are being targeted because of their First Amendment rights.
“Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards,” a statement said. statement from Lemon’s lawyer read. “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis is no different than what he has always done…Instead of investigating the federal agents who killed two peaceful Minnesota protesters, the Trump Justice Department is devoting its time, attention and resources to this arrest, and that is the true indictment of wrongdoing in this case. This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and this transparent attempt to divert attention of the many crises facing this administration will not stand. Don will fight these charges vigorously and completely in court.”
The Justice Department announced a little over a week ago that it would “file charges” against Lemon.
“Don Lemon himself testified that he knew exactly what was going to happen inside this establishment,” Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said. said on ‘The Benny Show’ earlier this month. “He came into the establishment, and then he started – quote unquote – ‘doing journalism,’ as if that was some kind of shield from being part, an integral part, of a criminal conspiracy. It’s not.”
Fort was detained at her home in St. Paul, Minnesota.
“I wanted to alert the public that officers are at my door right now, they say they were able to go before a grand jury…and they have a warrant for my arrest,” Fort said. said in a Facebook live video before being arrested.
“As a journalist, I filmed the church protest a few weeks ago, and now I am arrested for it,” she added. “It’s hard to understand how we can have a Constitution, constitutional rights, when we can just be arrested for being members of the press.”
This story has been updated.
