Don Lemon’s recent livestream from a radical anti-ICE protest that stormed a church in St. Paul was unprofessional and dangerous, and many Americans are rightly furious. Federal prosecutors tried to tether him to the disruption, but a magistrate judge declined to sign off on criminal charges — a procedural victory for Lemon, not necessarily a vindication of the conduct on the livestream.
The demonstration targeted Cities Church because one of the pastors also served as an ICE official, a sensitive subject that should never be used as cover for interrupting worship. Three demonstrators were arrested after the service was disrupted, and federal authorities have scrambled into an investigation that highlights how chaotic enforcement and politics have become around immigration.
A federal magistrate judge reportedly found insufficient probable cause to charge Lemon, which has only stoked partisan fireworks instead of calming the controversy. Attorney General rhetoric and political operatives seized the moment to score points, but the real question remains: why was a livestream amplified without regard for the safety of worshippers or the line between journalism and activism?
Conservatives shouldn’t pretend this is merely a legal technicality; it’s a symptom of a broken elite media that too often cheers on theatrical lawlessness when it fits a narrative. Meanwhile, the Justice Department’s involvement and its investigation into local officials for alleged interference with immigration enforcement shows how politicized enforcement decisions can become, and why ordinary Americans distrust these institutions.
The online reaction has been predictably loud and messy, with celebrities and influencers piling on and turning the situation into a virtue-signaling circus rather than a sober discussion about accountability. Even high-profile figures like Nicki Minaj erupted into name-calling and demands for Lemon’s imprisonment, which only proves how fevered and performative the outrage industry has become.
Make no mistake: journalists have a duty to report, not to catalyze confrontations that endanger others or interfere with constitutionally protected spaces. If Lemon crossed the line from reporting to participating, he should face the same scrutiny any citizen would — not protected by celebrity status or media clout. The magistrate’s decision does not end the debate; it should be the beginning of a fair, transparent review and, if warranted, impartial legal consequences.
Patriots who believe in law and order should demand equal treatment under the law and an end to double standards that let left-wing activists and their media allies get a pass. Hold the line for the First Amendment, but also hold accountable those who weaponize journalism to disrupt communities and violate the rights of worshippers — that’s the kind of justice hardworking Americans deserve.
