Was Don Lemon a Protestor, a Journalist or a Worshipper in Cities Church Disruption?

by Jeff Johnston | February 13, 2026 | Religious Freedom

Don Lemon pled not guilty to charges that he violated the law when he entered Cities Church, in St. Paul, Minnesota, with activists to film a pro-illegal immigration demonstration that intentionally disrupted and shut down the church’s worship service.

Lemon previously stated, in an Instagram video defending himself, that he was not part of the protest, adding, “We did an act of journalism.”

The other defendants charged along with the former CNN anchor are Nekima Levy-Armstrong, Chauntyll Allen, William Kelly, Jerome Richardson, Jamael Lundy, Trahern Jeen Crews, Ian Austin and Georgia Fort. Like Lemon, Fort is also an independent journalist.

The indictment against Lemon claims he was an activist who “entered the Church in a coordinated takeover-style attack and engaged in acts of oppression, intimidation, threats, interference, and physical obstruction alleged herein.”

The question for the court will be, was Lemon part of the group of protestors? Or was he acting independently as a journalist? Or a worshipper, as he told Cities Church Pastor Jonathan Parnell?

And, do journalists have the First Amendment right to enter a house of worship with a group of activists and film the disruption of a service?

An article from Samuel Oakford in The Washington Post indicates that Lemon was acting as a journalist. But then the reporter gives some contradictory evidence, saying:

Lemon live-streamed at the church, he conducted interviews and repeatedly identified himself as a reporter, while also voicing sympathy for the protesters’ cause. (Our emphasis.)

He also drove to the event with activists. The Post also reports that Lemon’s producer participated in the chants of the protestors:

Lemon’s producer for the day, Jerome Richardson, who is among those charged, can be seen engaging in call-and-response with protesters.

So much for impartial reporting.

The story quoted the indictment, which detailed Lemon’s actions at the church:

The indictment alleges that Lemon, Fort and Richardson “largely surrounded” a pastor [Jonathan Parnell], standing close to him “in an attempt to oppress and intimidate him, and physically obstructed his freedom of movement,” while Lemon “peppered him with questions to promote the operation’s message.”

Oakford reports that a lawyer for Cities Church, Greg Scott, a representative of True North Legal, stated:

Don Lemon participated in the disruption of a worship service on private property and was asked to leave.

Later, Scott added:

It is indisputable that Lemon invaded the pastor’s space while his church was being invaded. There is no world in which the aggressor and the accosted can be flipped here.

At one point in his exchange with Lemon, Pastor Parnell says, “I ask that you actually would also leave this building, unless you’re here to worship.”

Lemon responds, “I always worship; I am a Christian.”

It took Lemon seven minutes to leave the private property.

Later, Lemon filmed himself agreeing with the activists, saying:

You have to be willing to go into places and disrupt and make people uncomfortable. That is what this country is about.

The indictment from the U.S. Department of Justice charges Lemon and the other eight defendants with two counts: “conspiracy against right of religious freedom at place of worship” and “injure, intimidate, and interfere with exercise of Right of Religious Freedom at place of worship.”

So, was Lemon participating in the protest as an activist? Or simply reporting, as a journalist? Or was he even a worshipper, as he claimed?

His own documentation of his actions that day are very telling.

Related articles and resources:

Don Lemon, Other Activists Arrested for Disrupting Church Service in St. Paul

DOJ Arrests Three Activists Who Disrupted Cities Church Service in St. Paul

The Face Act Criminalizes Interfering in Church Services

It’s Compassionate to Oppose Illegal immigration. Here’s Why.

The Light Shines in the Darkness: When the World Storms the Church

Talking to Your Kids About Illegal Immigration

Tom Homan: We Have the Most Secure Border in American History

Trump Sees Lowest Border Numbers in History: ‘The Invasion is Over’

Violent Gang Takes Advantage of American Immigration Policy