St. Paul,Minnesota,May 17,2024 – Former CNN host Don Lemon and self-reliant journalist Georgia Fort are facing charges of conspiracy and interfering with religious freedom,stemming from their coverage of a protest in st. Paul earlier this month. The indictment, unsealed Friday, marks a surprising escalation in the Trump administration’s scrutiny of media coverage.
journalists Indicted Over Minneapolis Protest Coverage
The charges allege a “coordinated takeover-style attack” on a church during a exhibition.
The indictment alleges that Lemon, Fort, and seven other individuals “entered the Church in a coordinated takeover-style attack and engaged in acts of oppression, intimidation, threats, interference, and physical obstruction.” The incident occurred earlier this month when activists interrupted a church service to protest a pastor’s employment with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has sought to pursue legal action against Lemon. Prior to Friday’s indictment by a grand jury, attempts to charge the journalist were made at least twice, but were consistently rebuffed. A federal magistrate judge initially refused to sign an arrest warrant, and subsequent appeals were denied by both a federal district court judge and a federal appeals court panel.
Three activists were also charged last week in connection with the protests. Adding to the controversy,the White House digitally altered a photograph of Nekima Levy Armstrong,making it appear she was crying during her arrest,according to a post on X.
The indictment of journalists raises significant concerns about press freedom, particularly given the administration’s repeated attempts to bring charges against Lemon. The White House’s reaction further fueled the debate, with a post on X celebrating Lemon’s arrest with the phrase “When life gives you lemons… ⛓️” alongside a black-and-white photo of the journalist. The post also referred to the event as “St. Paul Church Riots,” framing a single protest as multiple incidents.
in a separate, more uplifting story, residents rallied to support joe Sass, a Chicago school crossing guard who went viral after helping a student navigate a street flooded with icy slush. More than $8,000 was raised for Sass after the heartwarming incident.
“I like being a helper,” Sass told the Washington Post. “And I think if people could think of me as that, then I think that’s like one of the most gorgeous things in the world. I’m just a friend out here helping my neighbors.”
