Over the weekend in St. Paul, Minnesota, former CNN anchor Don Lemon joined a group of anti-ICE protesters in storming Cities Church during a Sunday service to confront Pastor David Easterwood over his alleged ties to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The protesters, affiliated with the Racial Justice Network and including activists like Nekima Levy-Armstrong, chanted slogans such as “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good.” Lemon livestreamed the chaotic scene, capturing the demonstrators interrupting worship and directly challenging the pastor, whom they accused of moonlighting as an ICE field office director.
The pastor condemned the intrusion as “unacceptable” and “shameful,” emphasizing that it disrupted a peaceful Christian gathering. Critics blasted Lemon and the protesters for desecrating a sacred space, arguing that such forceful tactics showed disrespect for religious freedom. Some observers noted that children in the congregation were terrified by the sudden mob, heightening the outrage over the event.
In response, Lemon defended his coverage, accusing MAGA figures of overreacting while highlighting ongoing protests against ICE. Regardless, many have called for Lemon’s arrest under the FACE Act, claiming the disruption constitutes a hate crime and violation of federal law. The Department of Justice has confirmed it is investigating potential FACE Act violations, with Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon stating that the Civil Rights Division and FBI are involved.
The FACE Act, or Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, is a 1994 federal law that prohibits the use of force, threats, or physical obstruction to interfere with access to reproductive health services or places of religious worship, making such actions punishable by fines or imprisonment.
We want to ask you, the reader: should Don Lemon be arrested? Answer in our poll below and comment your thoughts on the possibility under the FACE Act.
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