Journalists Detained Following Protest at Minnesota Church

Two independent journalists, Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, were taken into custody following a protest that disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, earlier this month.

The incident occurred on January 18, when a group of demonstrators opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) entered Cities Church during a live service. The protesters’ sudden arrival caused the service to be interrupted and led to heated exchanges inside the church.

Lemon and Fort were present at the scene and were live-streaming as events unfolded. Authorities later connected them to the protest while reviewing the incident.

On Friday, Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that four individuals had been arrested in total, describing the event as a “coordinated attack” on the church. Officials did not immediately release further details about the specific charges each individual faces.

The incident has sparked renewed debate around protest boundaries, press freedom, and the role of journalists when covering live demonstrations.