Don Lemon Shares His Experience of Arrest at Anti-ICE Protest and Discusses the Impact of Fear

Don Lemon.
Credit :

ABC

NEED TO KNOW

• On Monday, Feb. 2, Don Lemon conducted his first major post-arrest interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• The interview follows his arrest during reporting on an anti-ICE protest at a church in Minnesota on Jan. 18.
• Lemon described being “jostled” and “handcuffed” by federal agents, stating their intent was to “embarrass” him and “instil fear.”

Don Lemon addressed his recent arrest for the first time during an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on February 2. The journalist shared insights into his arrest while reporting on an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church on January 18.

Responding to Kimmel’s inquiry about his well-being, Lemon remarked, “I don’t know…I’m not going to let them steal my joy, but this is very serious; these are federal, criminal charges.”

Don Lemon; Jimmy Kimmel.

ABC

When Kimmel made a light-hearted remark about prison time, Lemon responded that it was premature to speculate.

While acknowledging certain limitations on what he could disclose, Lemon emphasized, “I’m not a protestor, I went there as a journalist. I went there to chronicle, document, and record what was happening. There is a difference between a protestor and a journalist.”

The interview took place less than a week after Lemon’s arrest by federal agents in Los Angeles. Following a 12-hour detention, he was released without bail and plans to plead not guilty to the charges against him.

Don Lemon.

PGP / BACKGRID

According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who oversaw Lemon’s arrest along with three others, it was part of what she described as a “coordinated attack” on the St. Paul church. Lemon faces charges of conspiracy to deprive church congregants of their rights and interfering with First Amendment rights.

In his conversation with Kimmel, Lemon recounted that he attempted to offer himself for questioning multiple times after learning of the impending arrest but received no response from officials. Kimmel humorously pointed out that Lemon has not been particularly favored by former President Donald Trump during his career at CNN.

Lemon provided additional details about his arrest, including being “jostled,” “grabbed,” and placed in handcuffs. He described being taken outside to encounter “a dozen” agents, calling the deployment of such resources a “waste,” especially since he had offered to surrender himself.

“They want to embarrass you, they want to intimidate you, they want to instil fear,” Lemon explained.

After his release, Lemon expressed to a gathered crowd outside the courthouse, “There is no more important time than right now, this very moment, for a free and independent media that shines a light on truth and power and holds those in power accountable. I will not stop now, I will not stop ever.”

His attorney stated, “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done. The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable. There is no more important time for people like Don to be doing this work.”