Don Lemon Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Charges Surrounding Minnesota Church Protest

Don Lemon pleaded not guilty Friday to federal civil rights charges tied to a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Don Lemon did not address reporters while exiting the courthouse after entering his plea. Several protesters gathered outside, chanting phrases directed at the U.S. attorney general and in support of the press.

The charges stem from a January protest at Cities Church, where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official serves as a pastor. Prosecutors allege that protesters disrupted a worship service by chanting inside the church. Lemon has said he attended the event to document it for his livestream program and was not part of the protest.

Attorney Abbe Lowell told the judge she plans to raise First Amendment arguments. Lowell also asked for Lemon’s phone to be returned after it was taken during his arrest in Los Angeles. Prosecutors said the phone is being held by the Department of Homeland Security under a sealed search warrant and cannot be returned until the search is complete.

Civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong was also scheduled to be arraigned Friday. Armstrong was shown in an altered image shared on White House social media that inaccurately depicted her reaction during her arrest. The image circulated after the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers in Minneapolis.

Two additional defendants are scheduled for arraignment next week, including journalist Georgia Fort. Nine people have been charged in the case.

All defendants are charged under the FACE Act. The law bars interference or intimidation by force, threat of force, or physical obstruction against people exercising religious freedom at a place of worship. Convictions can carry penalties of up to one year in prison and fines up to $10,000.

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BNM Staff