Lemon and another independent journalist, George Fort, have been taken into federal custody in connection to a protest at a church earlier this month in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Lemon was with dozens of anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters as they rushed into Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, earlier this month, interrupting a church service and leading to tense confrontations.
“Don Lemon was taken into custody by federal agents last night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy awards,” his attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement early Friday. “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done. The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable.”
“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 real indictment of wrongdoing in this case,” Lowell added. “This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand. Don will fight these charges vigorously and thoroughly in court.”
This is bad.
EDIT - I should have said: This is really, really, really bad.
This is bad.EDIT - I should have said: This is really, really, really bad.
Unfortunately, bad is a severe understatement. At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before the regime starts raiding newsrooms.
You’re so right. I edited my comment.