On a Sunday morning in January 2026, a clash over immigration enforcement inside a Minnesota sanctuary has triggered one of the most controversial federal investigations in recent memory. What began as a 25-minute protest at Cities Church in St. Paul has evolved into a sprawling legal battle that could redefine the boundaries between journalism, activism, and criminal conspiracy. At the center stands Don Lemon, the 59-year-old former CNN anchor whose livestream coverage has placed him under federal scrutiny alongside the demonstrators he was documenting.
The confrontation stemmed from the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. While federal authorities characterized the incident as self-defense, video evidence and witness accounts contradicted official claims that Good attempted to run over officers. The shooting ignited fury across Minnesota, setting the stage for escalating confrontations between immigration enforcement and local communities.
The Dual Role That Sparked Outrage
Approximately 30 to 40 protesters entered Cities Church, targeting David Easterwood, who occupies a unique position that protesters deemed unconscionable: he serves both as a pastor at the church and as acting field director of ICE’s St. Paul office. Nekima Levy Armstrong, a civil rights attorney and ordained reverend, organized the demonstration she called “Operation Pull Up.” Protesters chanted “ICE out!” and “Justice for Renee Good” while disrupting the Sunday service led by Jonathan Parnell, the church’s lead pastor.
Easterwood was not present during the protest, though his dual role had become public through court documents filed in a lawsuit alleging ICE agents violated protesters’ constitutional rights. The Department of Homeland Security refused to confirm or deny Easterwood’s identity, citing concerns for officer safety.
The Line Between Reporting and Participation
Lemon arrived at the church with livestreaming equipment, later stating he had “no prior knowledge that protesters planned to enter the church” and maintained “no affiliations with that organization.” He characterized his role as purely journalistic, documenting events as they unfolded. However, video captured Lemon greeting protest organizer Levy Armstrong with a kiss on the cheek—a gesture prosecutors are examining as potential evidence of closer ties than simple observer status.
In a subsequent interview on January 20 with IHIP News, Lemon made inflammatory remarks about the congregation, stating certain religious groups possess “a sense of entitlement” that “comes from a supremacy, a white supremacy” and “believe this nation was created for them, that it is a Christian nation.” The comments amplified conservative criticism and fueled arguments that Lemon was not a neutral journalist but an ideological participant.
Unprecedented Application of Reconstruction-Era Statute
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who heads the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, posted directly to Lemon on X: “A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! You are on notice.” Dhillon’s office is examining two statutes as potential bases for prosecution: the FACE Act of 1994, which prohibits interference with religious worship, and the Enforcement Act of 1871—commonly known as the Ku Klux Klan Act.
The 1871 law, signed by President Ulysses S. Grant during Reconstruction, was designed to combat the Ku Klux Klan’s campaign of terror against newly freed Black Americans. The statute criminalizes conspiracy to deprive citizens of their constitutional rights and historically authorized the president to deploy federal troops and suspend habeas corpus in areas where violence prevented normal law enforcement.
In an interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, Dhillon emphasized the statute’s reach: “Whenever people conspire, the Klan Act can be used.” She warned the broader protest movement that “the fullest force of the federal government is going to come down and prevent this from happening.” While not directed specifically at Lemon, the message was unmistakable: federal prosecutors intend to use every available tool.
Stakes for Press Freedom and Civil Rights
Modern prosecutors rarely invoke the 1871 law, and its use against protesters—especially against a journalist—represents a significant departure from typical federal practice. Lemon’s legal defense will almost certainly assert robust First Amendment protections, arguing that journalists covering protests have historically been shielded from criminal charges for their presence.
The case has sparked alarm among press freedom advocates. If the Justice Department successfully prosecutes Lemon under the KKK Act, the precedent could discourage journalists from covering controversial demonstrations, creating a chilling effect on the reporting of civil rights activism. The profound irony is inescapable: a law created during Reconstruction to protect Black Americans from racial violence could now be weaponized against a Black journalist documenting protests demanding accountability for a contested federal shooting.
President Trump weighed in, calling the protesters “agitators and insurrectionists” who are “professionals” trained to “scream, rant, and rave, like lunatics” and should be “thrown in jail, or thrown out of the Country.” Billionaire Elon Musk echoed calls for Lemon’s arrest on X, declaring, “Crime is crime.”
As the FBI actively interviews witnesses and Dhillon signals charges could come quickly, the central question remains unresolved: Was Don Lemon a journalist covering a story or an active participant in a protest? The answer will determine not only his legal fate but also the future boundaries of press freedom when documenting civil unrest.
Sources
DOJ civil rights chief blasts Don Lemon for covering anti-ICE protest inside church, vows charges against protesters – NBC News
Reports, videos show how ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good – CNN
Don Lemon claims some religious groups have White supremacy ‘entitlement’ after anti-ICE church protest – Fox News
Cell phone footage raises new questions about ICE agent’s shooting of Renee Good – CNN
Don Lemon reacts to MAGA backlash over anti-ICE protest coverage: ‘We did an act of journalism’ – Hindustan Times