Don Lemon and Others Plead Not Guilty to Charges After Minnesota Church Protest

In Brief

Don Lemon and eight others pleaded not guilty to federal charges after a protest at a Minneapolis church.

Key Facts

• Don Lemon and several others were charged in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church whose pastor served as an ICE official.
• Don Lemon pleaded not guilty to federal charges related to the protest during his arraignment in Minneapolis.
• According to BBC and CBS News, the protest involved interrupting a church service to oppose immigration raids in Minnesota.
• Civil rights attorneys, according to CBS News, have predicted that the charges may be dismissed due to constitutional concerns with the FACE Act.
• Don Lemon stated, "I will not be intimidated" following his not guilty plea, according to CBS News.

What Happened

Don Lemon, former CNN anchor and independent journalist, and eight others were charged after a protest inside a Minneapolis church whose pastor served as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official. Lemon pleaded not guilty to the federal charges at his arraignment on Friday. The protest reportedly involved interrupting a church service to oppose immigration raids.

Why It Matters

The case involves the use of federal charges under the FACE Act in the context of protests at religious institutions. Civil rights attorneys cited by CBS News have raised constitutional concerns about the application of the law, and the outcome may affect future protest-related prosecutions in places of worship.