Don Lemon Faces Legal Battle Over Protest Coverage at Minnesota Church

Don Lemon, former CNN anchor, entered a not guilty plea on Friday in a criminal case related to his livestream coverage of a protest at a Minnesota church against President Trump's immigration policies. Lemon, now an independent journalist, was charged with conspiring to deprive others of their civil rights and violating a law used to curb disruptions at religious sites. His attorney has criticized the case as an affront to First Amendment rights.

Lemon's reporting focused on the protest against Trump's large-scale deployment of armed immigration agents in Democratic-run Minnesota cities. The demonstration at Cities Church in St. Paul was part of widespread national protests after federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens. President Trump praised the Justice Department's actions against Lemon, calling the disruption unacceptable.

Georgia Fort, another journalist who covered the protest, faces similar charges. The ongoing legal proceedings have highlighted tensions over media freedom and the extent of protection under the banner of free speech. Lemon's career spans 17 years at CNN, where he became a prominent critic of Trump before his termination in 2023.