Two Black journalists — Don Lemon and Georgia Fort — were arrested by federal agents days after both filmed an anti-ICE protest inside of the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where an U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director serves as a pastor.
Journalists and free press organizations across the U.S. are speaking out, condemning the arrests as attacks on the fourth estate. The Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is calling for the immediate release of Lemon and Fort, and for all charges against them to be withdrawn.
NABJ Chicago sent the following statement to The TRiiBE:
“NABJ-Chicago is dismayed and outraged by the federal arrest of independent journalist Don Lemon and NABJ Minnesota Vice President Georgia Fort. Both journalists were taken into custody in connection with their coverage of a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, despite, in Lemon’s case, a magistrate judge and appellate court rejecting the case for lack of probable cause and sufficient evidence,” the statement reads.
The statement continues, “These arrests represent an unprecedented assault on the free press and the constitutional rights that protect journalists reporting on community demonstrations and actions by federal law enforcement. Journalists have the right to cover protests and other events of public interest, a right grounded in the very ideals America was founded on. NABJ-Chicago stands firmly with all journalists and their constitutional protections. We call for the immediate release of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, and for all charges against them to be withdrawn. Our organization will continue to defend press freedom and the First Amendment, and are prepared to defend our local members who face similar threats on their rights.”
Lemon, formerly of CNN fame, said he was taken into custody by federal agents Thursday night while covering a Grammy Awards event in Los Angeles. For about a week, Lemon has been speaking out about the threats against him, particularly the Department of Justice’s efforts to prosecute him.
Lemon has been a journalist for 30 years.
“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,” Lemon’s attorney Abbe Lowell shared in a written statement. “This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many cries facing this administration will not stand.”
Fort is a three-time Midwest Emmy Award-winning independent journalist and the vice president of the Minnesota chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). She streamed live on Facebook around 6:30 a.m. when federal agents could be heard at her door.
“They’re saying that they were able to go before a grand jury sometimes, I guess, in the last 24 hours and that they have a warrant for my arrest,” Fort said in the two-minute video. Her attorney advised her to go with the agents.
Fort told viewers that her children were in the house with her; they could be heard crying in the background.
“This is all stemming from the fact that I filmed a protest as a member of the media. We are supposed to have our constitutional right of the freedom to film, to be a member of the press. I don’t feel like I have my First Amendment right as a member of the press because now federal agents are at my door arresting me for filming the church protest a few weeks ago,” Fort said.
On X (formerly Twitter), U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote that federal agents, at her direction, arrested Lemon and Fort, along with two others, early Friday morning “in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.”
The others arrested are Trahern Crews, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Minnesota and 2024 Bush Foundation fellow; and Jamael Lydell Lundy, a longtime government staffer who is running Minnesota Senate District 65, according to the BLCK Press, an independent news outlet founded by Fort.
On Jan. 18, local activists entered the church where David Easterwood, who reportedly works as an acting field office director for ICE, is a pastor. Lemon and Fort filmed the protest in their journalism capacities. Multiple people have been arrested since.
On X, the official White House account posted a meme mocking Lemon’s arrest. The caption reads: “When life gives you lemons…”
The Committee to Protest Journalists (CPJ) has released a statement condemning the arrests of Lemon and Fort.
“This is an egregious attack on the First Amendment and on journalists’ ability to do their work,” said CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg. “As an international organization, we know that the treatment of journalists is a leading indicator of the condition of a country’s democracy. These arrests are just the latest in a string of egregious and escalating threats to the press in the United States — and an attack on people’s right to know.”
Minneapolis activists disrupted a church service where David Easterwood serves as a pastor, according to lawyer and activist @nekimal - Easterwood is also the acting field office director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in St. Paul, Minnesota. I'm LIVE from Minneapolis right now 🤝🏾
— Don Lemon (@donlemonofficial.bsky.social) January 18, 2026 at 3:54 PM
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Freedom of the Press Foundation (FBF) also condemns the government’s attacks on journalists.
“The government’s arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are naked attacks on freedom of the press. Two federal courts flatfly rejected prosecuting Lemon because the evidence for these vindictive and unconstitutional charges was insufficient, and Lemon has every right to document news and inform the public. Instead of accepting that humiliating defeat, the government has now doubled down,” FBF Chief of Advocacy Seth Stern said.
NABJ wrote on Instagram that the organization “is outraged and deeply alarmed by the arrest of veteran journalist Don Lemon” and “by the government’s escalating efforts and actions to criminalize and threaten press freedom under the guise of law enforcement.
3:30 p.m.
Fort has been released from custody, according to Huffington Post Deputy Editor Phil Lewis.
Fort is the founder of BLCK Press. The independent newsroom is reporting that Fort is facing two federal charges:
- Count I: Conspiracy Against Right of Religious Freedom at Place of Worship
- Count 2: Injure, Intimidate, and Interfere with Exercise of Right of Religious Freedom at Place of Worship
BLCK Press also shared a statement from Fort’s counsel. She was scheduled for an initial court appearance at 1:30 p.m. today in federal court in Minneapolis.
“Fort was present at the demonstration solely in a journalistic capacity, documenting an event of significant public interest and concern,” the statement reads. “The free speech and free press guarantees of the First Amendment fully protect such newsgathering and reporting activities and Fort’s arrest is a transparent and unconstitutional attempt by our federal government to intimidate journalists and chill their protected speech. She will be vigorously defending herself against these charges.”
3:45 p.m.
On Jan. 24, the Department of Justice posted the following caption on its official X (formerly Twitter) account regarding the anti-ICE protest at the church: “Religious liberty is under attack. This will not stand. This Department of Justice will not stop until there is accountability and faith communities are protected.”
Lemon was scheduled to appear in federal court in Los Angeles at 1:30 p.m. today, according to independent court reporter Meghann Cuniff.
As of 1:45 p.m. pacific time, the hearing had not begun.
6:00 p.m.
Lemon has been released from custody and gave his first remarks about 30 minutes ago. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass attended his court hearing. According to CNN Anchor Jake Tapper, Lemon also faces two federal charges:
- Count I: Conspiracy Against Right of Religious Freedom at Place of Worship
- Count 2: Injure, Intimidate, and Interfere with Exercise of Right of Religious Freedom at Place of Worship
“I’ve spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now,” Lemon said to cheers. “In fact, there is no more important time than right now, this very moment, for a free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable.”
Lemon said he was arrested in the middle of the night. “I will not be silenced. I look forward to my day in court,” he added. His next court date is Feb. 9.
