As most of the world knows by now, On Sunday, January 18th, a group of people set out to terrorize Christians who were attending church services at the Cities Church in St. Paul. The group exercised a takeover style attack while church services were going on. The indictment alleges multiple counts of lawbreaking including violation of the so-called FACE act which is often used against Pro-life protesters.
Included in the indictment was Don Lemon, who, at one time, was a member of the CNN staff. Lemon claims he was there as a journalist. I bet that CNN is happy that Lemon is no longer a “journalist” on their staff.
Indictment
Lemon was arrested while covering the Grammy awards. Immediately the weeping and gnashing of teeth could be heard about the end of freedom of the press, censorship, etc. Bernie Sanders stated that “We must fight back against authoritarianism.”
Kamala Harris said via X, “Donald Trump and his administration are once again trampling on our rights and our freedoms. Journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort were fulfilling their duty to the American people to report and inform, and they have been arrested for it.”
Erstwhile presidential candidate, the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, said, “Putin would be proud.”
If terrorizing a congregation is reporting and informing, then I completely understand Harris’ inability to communicate with the American public.
Most of us understand the First Amendment, but clearly, many on the left do not. If you use your press freedoms to aid and abet the interruption of church services, you do not get to hide behind your journalist badge to escape accountability.
As one observer noted, some are saying it is okay for Don Lemon to disrupt church services and physically block parishioners trying to exit while trying to “educate” them on immigration law. Somehow, they see this as part of his journalistic duty. If that is so, then it’s okay for a pro-lifer to enter an abortion clinic and intimidate and harass the pregnant patients there waiting for their abortions while trying to “educate” them on the baby they’re carrying. I doubt there is anyone on the Left who would agree with that.
Monty Donehow noted:
Consider the logic. If Don Lemon can enter a house of worship with protesters, film as they disrupt services, interview the agitators mid-chaos, and emerge unscathed because he was “doing journalism,” what stops anyone else from doing the same? In an era of smartphones and social media, every American is a potential publisher. The Supreme Court has long recognized that the First Amendment protects citizen-journalists no less than credentialed professionals. There is no press “license” required to invoke free speech or free press protections.
So, under Lemon’s implied standard, any activist could simply whip out a phone, hit “record,” declare himself a “citizen-journalist,” and participate in otherwise illegal obstruction, all while claiming immunity. Block access to a church? Film it for your YouTube channel. Conspire to intimidate worshipers? Just livestream the planning session, and call it “investigative reporting.” The FACE Act and the KKK Act would be gutted overnight.
Some highlights from the indictment:
Let’s be reminded that Lemon was livestreaming this event and telling people about his involvement. So much of the evidence is coming straight from his own video.
This is a big no-no. One cannot obstruct someone who Lemon admitted was terrified. That is a criminal offense. Let’s be reminded that one woman broke her arm in an attempt to flee the invasion of the church.
What are the prospects for a conviction?
First, the likelihood of anything happening quickly is almost nil. The trial will probably take place in Minneapolis where the jury pool will be sympathetic to those who support keeping murderers, rapists, etc. in the country. While I am thrilled to see arrests, we are a long way from seeing any of these a**hats in prison.