Black leaders condemn Don Lemon’s role in church disruption, urge DOJ to invoke KKK Act Stronger and more confrontational

Posted For: Hauviette

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon may be facing potential legal scrutiny following his presence at a disruptive protest inside a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, according to statements made by senior officials in the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and the Trump administration.

On Sunday, anti-ICE activists entered Cities Church during a worship service as part of what organizers described as an effort to “disrupt business as usual.” Protesters said they were seeking David Easterwood, a pastor they identified as the acting director of ICE’s St. Paul office, though he was reportedly not present. Demonstrators chanted slogans including “Justice for Renee Good,” “ICE out,” and “David Easterwood out now.”

The protest followed the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE officer Jonathan Ross on January 7 in Minneapolis. Video of the encounter circulated widely, prompting national attention and political reaction. The Trump administration and its allies have characterized Good as a “domestic terrorist,” arguing the shooting was justified, while critics have called for accountability. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has stated that the DOJ is not currently investigating Ross. President Donald Trump has recently suggested he may invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy the military in response to unrest, a step he previously considered after the 2020 killing of George Floyd.

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BREAKING: DOJ Announces Intention to Charge Don Lemon under the Ku Klux Klan Act.

The KKK Act makes it illegal to threaten, hurt, or intimidate people to prevent them from exercising their God-given rights.

HARMEET DHILLON: “The Klan Act is one of the most important federal… pic.twitter.com/GWnXAMtWc9

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 19, 2026

A livestream posted by Black Lives Matter Minnesota showed protesters interrupting the church service, confronting congregants, and accusing church leaders of hypocrisy. The pastor present, Jonathan Parnell, objected to the disruption, calling it inappropriate to interrupt a worship service. Lemon, who was inside the church and recording, challenged that view by citing First Amendment protections for protest. Parnell responded that the congregation also had a First Amendment right to worship.

Outside the church, Lemon spoke with protest organizer Nekima Levy Armstrong, a lawyer, activist, and reverend who leads the Racial Justice Network. Armstrong described the action as a “clandestine operation” aimed at confronting institutions connected to ICE and said the protest was part of her religious duty. Lemon later said he had become aware of the protest effort, known as “Operation Pull Up,” after conducting what he described as on-the-ground reconnaissance.

In another exchange inside the church, Armstrong said the goal was to demand justice for Good and to expose what she called the contradiction of a church harboring someone involved in ICE leadership. She rejected criticism that the protest went too far, placing responsibility instead on President Trump, senior administration officials, and ICE leadership.

Lemon has said he followed the protesters into the church without knowing their destination and maintained that his actions constituted journalism. In subsequent videos, he questioned why he became a focal point of the controversy, noting both his public profile and his identity as a gay Black man.

Senior DOJ officials have publicly discussed the possibility of investigating Lemon and others under federal civil rights laws, including the Ku Klux Klan Act and the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon raised the issue during an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, suggesting that Lemon could be viewed as an “embedded” participant in a potential criminal conspiracy rather than a neutral journalist.

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President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship.

The Department of Justice has launched a full investigation into the despicable incident that took place earlier today at a church in Minnesota.

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 19, 2026

Dhillon said the DOJ is examining whether federal statutes were violated, including possible conspiracy charges related to the use of electronic communications, funding sources, and interstate travel connected to the protest. She emphasized that the government intends to aggressively pursue cases involving interference with religious worship.

Conservative commentators echoed those sentiments, with some calling for severe legal consequences for Lemon and the protesters. Administration officials also issued strong public statements.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump “will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship” and confirmed that the Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the incident. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she had spoken with the church’s pastor and vowed that any violations of federal law would be prosecuted. She also indicated the DOJ is reviewing the actions of Minnesota state and local officials who have publicly criticized ICE operations.

“Any violation of federal law will be prosecuted,” Bondi said, noting she is in constant communication with DOJ civil rights leadership. Deputy Attorney General Blanche reposted her statement, reinforcing the administration’s position.

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