culture

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

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 spokesman 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

Picture of Cities Church from Getty Images.
Picture of Don Lemon from Instagram @donlemonofficial.

President Trump Announces Guidelines to Protect Students’ Right to Pray in Schools

President Donald Trump addressed the 74th National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning at the Washington Hilton Hotel — the chief executive’s sixth speech to the group.

Focus on the Family president Jim Daly, who attended the annual gathering with over 3,500 attendees, including international dignitaries such as the president of Congo, qualified it as an important occasion to call on the Lord for His guidance and wisdom.

“Scripture commands that we pray for our leaders, and while we do so individually, it’s important to gather to do the same collectively,” Daly shared. “President Trump’s ongoing protection of religious liberty is deeply supported by faith leaders. We also appreciated his announced efforts to protect the rights of students to pray in public schools.”

President Trump used the event to announce the U.S. Department of Education was issuing guidance on constitutionally protected prayer and religious expression in public elementary and secondary schools. The president predicted foes of the plan would sue — but that his administration would ultimately prevail. 

In a wide-ranging address that covered dozens of hot-button issues, Mr. Trump also made news by announcing a special prayer event in Washington, D.C. on May 17 called “Rededicate 250: National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving.”

As part of America’s 250th birthday celebration, the twelve-hour occasion promises that “In speech, song, and storytelling, we will bear witness to the extraordinary story of how God has powerfully and wonderfully shaped the United States of America — remembering the people, sacrifices, and defining moments in which God has powerfully manifested Himself in our history.”

“We’re going to rededicate America as one nation under God,” declared the president.

Mr. Trump spoke for over an hour, often veering away from his prepared text. Here are some of the highlights of what he said:

On the nation’s commitment to protecting people of faith all around the world:

“When Christians come under attack, they know they’re going to be attacked violently and viciously by President Trump. I know it’s not a nice thing to say, but that’s the way it is.”

“No administration in modern history has done more to confront the plight of persecuted Christians around the world than we have with us. It’s a mission. It’s actually a mission.”

On America’s deep Christian roots: 

“We are endowed with our sacred rights through life, liberty, and not by government but by God Almighty Himself. And those words rang out from Philadelphia and launched a revolution not just in America but in the hearts of all humanity.”

“The principles of the Declaration of Independence, which is one of three, sitting right beautifully in the Oval Office. I took it out of the vaults, and it’s beautiful. It’s beautifully protected, and it’s a magnificent document. I stare at it all the time, and I read it as often as I can. A true, brilliant work of art.”

On the importance of faith in a thriving country: 

“You have to have God. And thankfully, as we gather today, there are many signs that religion is coming back. And now it’s no longer signs. It’s just coming back. It’s coming back so strong. You know, your churches are filling up.”

On correcting the wrong of pandemic-era lockdowns:

“They were arresting people for going to church, and they were treating people horribly. I’ve made a lot of amends to those people. Those people were treated very badly for wanting to go to church … But the churches are now coming back stronger than ever.”

“In the last 12 months, young Americans attended church at nearly twice the rate as they did four years ago.”

“Some churches are seeing a 30 percent, 50 percent, or even 70 percent increase in the number of converts, and also the number of people going to church every week.”

President Trump praised Speaker Mike Johnson’s strong Christian faith:

“You know, Mike Johnson is a very religious person, and he does not hide it. He’ll say to me sometimes at lunch, ‘Sir, may we pray?” I say, ‘Excuse me? What happened to lunch?’ It’s okay with me. But he’s a very religious person, and he is popular, and he’s doing an unbelievable job. So, I think God is watching over you. God is watching over him. I don’t know about me, so I hang around with him because I feel I’m protected a little bit.”

On support for educational options for American families: 

“We passed the largest ever expansion of school choice so that every parent has a chance to send their child to a school that shares their values.”

On the administration’s socially conservative commitments: 

“We expanded the Mexico City policy to stop taxpayer dollars from being used to promote radical gender ideology all around the world … My administration also rejoined the Geneva Consensus Declaration to affirm the right to sovereign nations, to protect life, defend the family, and to be faithful to God.”

“I signed an executive order to slash federal funding for any public school that pushes transgender insanity. This is crazy on our youth. Who would think about that? Who would think if you go back 15 years, you’re talking about, and I stopped the mutilation of children. The word is mutilation. They mutilate.”

On the administration’s commitment to fight anti-Semitism and anti-Christian bias:

“I signed an executive order to combat the vile scourge of anti-Semitism, which is really raging. Surprising. Nobody’s ever seen it. I set up an official Department of Justice taskforce to eradicate anti-Christian bias, because you do have a lot of that. They don’t talk about that. They’re always talking about other religions and other different — but a lot of anti-Christian bias. And you see it going in foreign countries. I mentioned Nigeria. There are others. We’re hitting them very hard.”

“My administration is confronting head-on the militant and, really, intolerant campaign that tried to drive religious believers out of public life and out of society.”

On addressing the Minnesota church invasion:

“The Department of Justice recently charged nine individuals for storming a church in Minnesota during a worship service and trampling on Americans’ First Amendment rights. I watched that tape, and that was violent.”

“I thought the minister was great. He was so calm and good. They’re screaming at him. Terrible. Right in the middle of a church service.”

On peace through strength:

“As the Bible tells us, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’ That’s true. The peacemakers are very important. But you can only have peace, I find, through strength. If you don’t have strength, peace is very hard. And we have strength.”

“Almost 250 years after our founding fathers took one of the greatest leaps of faith in human history … [the] faith of the American people remains unbroken. It actually became stronger than ever. And it reminds us that prayers strengthen, prayers heal, prayer empowers, and prayer saves. Quite simply, prayer is America’s superpower. It really is a superpower. And it always has been, and it always will be.”

The prayer breakfast included a moving keynote address from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, who recounted the tragic death of his wife, who passed away following a horseback riding accident.

“Sometimes following God doesn’t always mean that it’s going to work out the way that we want it to,” he shared. “After all, Jesus did say that ‘in this world, you will have many troubles,’ but He also said, ‘I have overcome the world.’”

“In my life, that truth then became real, and He became real to me, like He had never been. Oh, I had known Him, but now I began to know Him in a way that I had never known Him before. He became a healer and a redeemer, and a dispenser of hope.”

Jury Awards $2 Million to Young Woman Who Underwent ‘Transgender’ Surgery at 16

A New York jury awarded Fox Varian $2 million dollars in a malpractice lawsuit against medical professionals who attempted to socially and surgically “transition” her to look like the opposite sex. 

This is the first time a “detransitioner” has won a medical malpractice suit against those who caused irreversible psychological and physical damage to a person struggling with sexual identity confusion. 

Varian underwent a double mastectomy in 2019 when she was only 16 years old, hardly competent to consent to an operation that left her with scarring, ongoing pain, and the inability to ever nurse a child. 

Four years after her surgery, she filed a lawsuit against her psychologist, Kenneth Einhorn, who had written a referral letter to Dr. Simon Chin, the surgeon who performed the double mastectomy on the teenager.    

Writing at The Free Press, Benjamin Ryan explained that the jury decision hinged on “whether the care providers failed to observe standard safeguards and whether any deviations from those standards injured the patient.”

Ryan reported that Varian was 15 when “she began questioning her gender during sessions with her psychologist.” Born Isabella, she first changed her name to Gabriel, identifying as androgynous. 

“Over the next two months,” Ryan explained, “she cut her hair short, began binding her breasts, switched her name again, to Rowan, and started telling people she was transgender.” 

Finally, only “11 months after she started this public social transition, Varian underwent surgery to remove her breasts.” 

Ryan evinced sympathy for Varian’s mother Claire Deacon, who was pressured to approve the surgery, reporting: 

Varian testified that Einhorn served as an enabler, repeatedly assuring her that the mastectomy she desired would greatly improve her well-being. Deacon testified that Einhorn browbeat her into consenting to her daughter’s surgery, threatening that she would otherwise commit suicide.

“Varian’s attorney Adam Deutsch had asked the jury for $8 million in damages,” The Epoch Times reported, adding that the jury award included “$1.6 million for past and future pain and suffering, and another $400,000 for future medical expenses.” 

Ryan attended all three weeks of the jury trial in White Plains and said this verdict “could change gender medicine,” adding, “There are nearly 30 known civil suits filed by detransitioners to date (the first was filed in 2022), almost all of them malpractice cases structured similarly to Varian’s.”

He explained: 

While there are no guarantees in medical malpractice lawsuits, legal experts believe Varian’s victory could inspire a wave of similar cases that would significantly disrupt pediatric gender medicine.

Other young women who were damaged by “transgender” drugs, hormones and surgeries, and who have filed lawsuits against medical institutions and professionals who harmed them, applauded the jury decision. 

Chloe Cole filed a lawsuit in 2023 alleging that Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, The Permanente Medical Group and three doctors had improperly treated her sexual identity confusion with chemical and surgical interventions, leaving her with “deep physical and emotional wounds, severe regrets, and distrust of the medical system.”

Doctors prescribed powerful puberty blockers and testosterone to Cole when she was only 13, performing a radical double mastectomy on her when she was only 15. 

Cole stated in a post on X, “I couldn’t be more happy for Fox Varian. Detransitioners need justice.” 

Prisha Mosley is another young woman who filed a lawsuit alleging medical fraud against those who used chemical and medical interventions in an attempt to make her look more like a male. Her lawsuit stated: 

Instead of telling Prisha the truth and informing her accurately and fully, Defendants lied to Prisha. They lied when they told Prisha she was actually a boy; they lied when they told her that injecting testosterone into her body would solve her numerous, profound mental and psychological health problems. …  And they lied by omission, withholding critical information from her about the long-term adverse health consequences and permanent damage these “treatments” would cause her, and failing to inform her of alternative courses of treatment for her psychological problems and ensure she had a clear understanding of those alternatives.

Part of her case was dismissed, but Mosley has appealed that decision. 

In an appearance on The Ingraham Angle, Mosley told Laura Ingraham how encouraged she was by the jury’s award to Varian: 

I think this sets an incredible precedent for detransitioners like me, who are trying to hold our doctors accountable. To see a win, an agreement from a jury that this patient was wronged, especially in a blue state like New York, is especially encouraging for detransitioners like me.

As Christians, we must have compassion on children — and adults — wrestling with sexual identity confusion. But true compassion means protecting strugglers from harmful and damaging drugs, hormones and surgeries.

Legal victories can’t undo the irreversible damage caused by these treatments. But, as legal experts told Benjamin Ryan, “Major jury awards could drive up malpractice insurance rates and perhaps even drive providers who fear reputational damage out of the field entirely.”

Related articles and resources: 

DOJ Targets Those Mutilating Children with ‘Transgender’ Drugs and Surgeries

Do Not Fall for the ‘Affirm Them or They Will Die’ Lie

Expert in ‘Transitioning’ Children Admits ‘We Were Wrong’ About Puberty Blockers

Focus on the Family: Counseling Consultation & Referrals

Focus on the Family: Transgender Resources

Four Brave Young Women File Lawsuits Alleging Harm from ‘Transgender’ Interventions

More Hospitals Stop Mutilation of Sexually Confused Children

New Video Equips Parents and Counselors to Help ‘Gender Dysphoric’ Children

ReFOCUS with Jim Daly: Addressing Gender Identity with Honesty and Compassion

ReFOCUS with Jim Daly: Chloe Cole: Gender Reassignment Surgery Regret

Transgenderism and Minors: What Does the Research Really Show?

Why We March: Standing for Life with Hope and Resilience

Every January, tens of thousands of Americans gather in Washington, D.C. for the March for Life. They come from different backgrounds, ages, and walks of life, but they are united by the shared belief that every human life has value and deserves protection.

The March for Life is known for its young people, joyfulness, and an unmistakable sense of purpose. 

Families march together. Grandparents return year after year. High school and college studentstravel in large groups to attend. If you’ve ever been to a march, then you know that you’ll see more young people than any other demographic. The crowd is diverse, but the message is unified and clear — all human life matters, and it is worth defending.

What sets the March for Life apart from so many other public demonstrations is its tone. Even in the dead cold of January, the gathering is full of optimism. This is a movement rooted in the belief that truth still has the power to shape culture for good.

At today’s rally, President Trump addressed the crowd via video and was unmistakably clear in his message. He told the crowd that his administration is fully supportive of the pro-life movement because he recognizes that human life is inherently valuable and deserves protection.

Vice President Vance spoke in person to attendees and assured them that they have an ally in the White House. He shared that the Trump Administration will be expanding the Mexico City Policy to cover not just abortions abroad, but also DEI and radical gender ideology. Vice President Vance said the U.S. will block every international NGO that performs abortion abroad from receiving even a dollar of U.S. funding. 

Focus on the Family’s Vice President of Advocacy for Children, Robyn Chambers told the Daily Citizen that she’s often asked why the pro-life movement keeps marching even after Roe has been overturned. She says, “I march because women are still being harmed, lives are lost, and the culture tells us abortion is healthcare and two little pills can ‘fix’ the problem. As long as those lies continue to hurt women and their children, I’ll march, protect and stand for life!”

One of the most encouraging sights each year is the strong presence of young people. High school and college students make up a significant portion of the crowd, bringing energy and clarity to the cause. They reject the premise that abortion is inevitable or necessary. Many see it instead as a challenge their generation is determined to confront with compassion and creativity. Generational commitment matters. Cultural change is slow, and it requires persistence. 

Being pro-life means caring and acting in practical, tangible ways. According to a Charlotte Lozier Institute report, in 2024, pregnancy resource centers nationwide provided over $452 million in care, education, and material support.

The pro-life movement should be proud of how they are stepping up and serving women and babies. It’s making a difference.

The March for Life is a public witness to the world that the most vulnerable in our society deserve protection. We march because life has inherent value regardless of age, location, ability or dependency.

We will continue to march, year after year, until every life is recognized as valuable, every mother is supported, and our laws and culture reflect the fundamental truth that every human life is a gift.

This Week Vice President Vance Will Headline World’s Largest Human Rights Gathering

This Friday, the pro-life community will rally in Washington, D.C. at the 53rd National March for Life — the largest annual human rights gathering in the world.

This year’s event will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, and Vice President Vance will keynote the rally for the second year in a row. Last year, the March for Life marked Vance’s first public appearance after being sworn in as vice president of the United States. 

The theme this year is “Life is a Gift,” inviting participants to reflect on the inherent worth of every human life, and celebrate the dignity of mothers, babies and families.  

The March for Life is rooted in the long tradition of peaceful advocacy since its founding in 1973, following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. 

2024 March for Life Timelapse

Source: March for Life Education and Defense Fund YouTube Channel

Every year thousands of people travel to Washington, D.C. to rally on the National Mall and march up Constitution Avenue, past the White House, around the U.S. Capitol building and finish at the U.S. Supreme Court for the protection of human life. 

While the legal landscape has shifted in recent years, the core purpose of the march remains the same — to advocate for a culture that protects human life at all stages from the womb to the tomb.

Source: March for Life

Grammy-nominated, Dove award-winning band Santus Real will perform a pre-rally concert beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. 

The rally will begin at 12:00 p.m. ET.

The speaker line-up includes:

• United States Vice President J.D. Vance

• Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House

• Cissie Graham Lynch, Senior Advisor and Spokesperson for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse

• Friends of Club 21 Choir who will be performing the National Anthem

• Sarah Hurm, Abortion Pill Reversal Testimony Speaker

• Jennie Bradley Lichter, President of the March for Life

• U.S. Congressman Chris Smith

• Bishop Irinej Dobrijević, Head of Delegation, Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA

• Debbie Biskey, CEO of Options for Her

• Elizabeth Pillsbury Oliver, student and President of Georgetown University Right to Life

Focus on the Family will be in attendance and invites our pro-life friends to join us as we March for Life in our nation’s Capital this week!

If you plan on attending the march in person, you can RSVP and learn more details at March for Life.

If you are unable to attend in person you can watch the livestream online!

Join us as we boldly testify to the humanity of every human life because “Life is a Gift!”