US DOJ Vows Charges Against Protesters, Accuses CNN's Don Lemon of Bias
The US Department of Justice is moving forward with charges against protesters who participated in an anti-ICE demonstration at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, according to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon. In a statement that has sparked outrage among civil liberties advocates, Dhillon specifically targeted CNN journalist Don Lemon for his coverage of the event.
Lemon had reported on the protest from inside the church, where protesters were demanding justice for Renee Nicole Good, a woman who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. The Justice Department claims that Lemon's reporting made him an "embedded part" of the protest, which is seen as a threat to public safety.
However, Lemon has pushed back against these allegations, arguing that his reporting was done in a neutral and journalistic manner. He pointed out that he was not the only reporter at the protest and that many people online have directed homophobic and racist slurs at him after the event.
In an interview with conservative influencer Benny Johnson, Dhillon said that journalism is not a "shield" from prosecution for crimes committed during protests. She claimed that Lemon had known exactly what was going to happen inside the facility and that his reporting made him complicit in the alleged conspiracy.
The Justice Department has yet to confirm whether they will pursue charges against Lemon specifically, but have announced plans to investigate potential violations of the federal FACE Act, which prohibits interfering with or obstructing people from seeking reproductive health services or exercising religious freedom at places of worship.
The US Department of Justice is moving forward with charges against protesters who participated in an anti-ICE demonstration at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, according to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon. In a statement that has sparked outrage among civil liberties advocates, Dhillon specifically targeted CNN journalist Don Lemon for his coverage of the event.
Lemon had reported on the protest from inside the church, where protesters were demanding justice for Renee Nicole Good, a woman who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. The Justice Department claims that Lemon's reporting made him an "embedded part" of the protest, which is seen as a threat to public safety.
However, Lemon has pushed back against these allegations, arguing that his reporting was done in a neutral and journalistic manner. He pointed out that he was not the only reporter at the protest and that many people online have directed homophobic and racist slurs at him after the event.
In an interview with conservative influencer Benny Johnson, Dhillon said that journalism is not a "shield" from prosecution for crimes committed during protests. She claimed that Lemon had known exactly what was going to happen inside the facility and that his reporting made him complicit in the alleged conspiracy.
The Justice Department has yet to confirm whether they will pursue charges against Lemon specifically, but have announced plans to investigate potential violations of the federal FACE Act, which prohibits interfering with or obstructing people from seeking reproductive health services or exercising religious freedom at places of worship.
. I mean, Don Lemon was just doing his job as a journalist, reporting on a real event that happened in front of him. Just because he went inside the church to get a firsthand account doesn't mean he's somehow "embedded" with the protesters or complicit in some alleged conspiracy 
. And what about free speech? Isn't it protected by the 1st amendment for people like Lemon to report on events without fear of retribution from the government? It seems like they're trying to set a slippery slope precedent that could be used against anyone who dares to speak out against the status quo 
. And honestly, I'm not buying the claim that journalism isn't a shield from prosecution - if that's really the case, then why haven't we seen more journalists getting prosecuted for reporting on protests and other contentious events? It just doesn't add up 
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Like, this is some crazy stuff going down in the US right now... The DOJ's trying to charge protesters for being at an anti-ICE protest and now they're saying CNN's Don Lemon was biased? 
I'm worried about where this is going and how it's gonna affect the press in general...
. And now they're saying he's an "embedded part" of the protest? that sounds like some serious Orwellian stuff 
. I'm worried about the precedent this sets for future protests and journalists who dare to report on them. we need to stand up for our rights to free speech and a free press 
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It's like, can you imagine if this was happening at any old protest rally? But nope, only when it involves people of color or LGBTQ+ folks getting involved 
He did his job to the best of his ability and got heat from all sides. I think it's wild that they're trying to pin this on him specifically, though - what if he'd done a totally different report? Would we be hearing anything about that? 
It's just ridiculous. And don't even get me started on this FACE Act nonsense... it sounds like a bunch of old-school attempts to silence dissenting voices. I'm all for reproductive health and religious freedom, but not at the cost of free speech and assembly! 
also can't believe they're accusing lemon of bias... like, isn't that the point of journalism to report both sides fairly? 
it's like they're saying that being a journalist isn't a protected profession, but more like you gotta toe the company line or else... 
and what's with the snide jab at Don Lemon? 
. This is a huge threat to our democracy, where do we draw the line between reporting and activism? 
This is just another example of how far the government will go to silence dissenting voices and muzzle free speech. It's a slippery slope and we need to be careful not to let this kind of intimidation happen in our country.
I've seen some questionable stuff in my time online, but this takes the cake. Don Lemon's reporting was solid as always, and to accuse him of being biased or complicit in some conspiracy is just laughable. 
. I mean, come on, the DOJ thinks they can just charge protesters for exercising their right to free speech and then go after a journalist for doing his job? It's like they think reporting the truth is some kind of crime 
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. We're living in a time where reporting the truth can get you labeled as "biased" or worse 
. It's like, they're trying to create a chilling effect on free speech and journalistic integrity 
. And what about all those people online who directed homophobic and racist slurs at Don Lemon? That's not journalism, that's mob mentality 
. We need to be careful about where we draw the line between safety and freedom of expression 
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this is a sad day for free speech and the First Amendment. 
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. It's like the Justice Department is trying to silence critics and limit press freedom in an attempt to maintain order... but at what cost? The public needs a free press to hold those in power accountable, you feel?