ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Don Lemon, the former CNN host now an independent journalist, is scheduled for arraignment in federal court this Friday alongside civil rights lawyer Nekima Levy Armstrong. Both face charges linked to a disruption during a service at a church where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official serves as pastor.
Armstrong, previously featured in a controversial AI-altered image posted by the White House that misleadingly depicted her crying during her arrest, has also drawn attention as protests surrounding the church service intensified following violent incidents involving ICE.
Lemon's attorney has indicated that he intends to plead not guilty to federal charges related to civil rights violations stemming from the church protest earlier this year, which was ignited by rising tensions from the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies.
The protest at Cities Church saw demonstrators chanting against ICE and demanding justice for Renee Good, a mother of three who was killed by an ICE officer. Lemon's involvement as a journalist covering the event was clarified by him after his arrest, emphasizing his commitment to reporting on critical issues.
While many community members and clergy voiced concerns about the protest tactics, claiming they politicized sacred spaces, others defended the need for such direct actions amid a perceived crisis in immigration enforcement.
Lemon's arraignment is part of a broader legal context involving nine defendants charged in this case, against a backdrop of fierce national discourse regarding civil rights, judicial accountability, and immigration policy in the United States.
