After being detained overnight in relation to a protest that interrupted a church service in Minnesota earlier this month, former Don Lemon made an appearance in federal court in Los Angeles on Friday.
After a quick hearing in downtown Los Angeles, a judge ordered Lemon’s release without requiring him to post money.
The case revolves around a protest against immigration enforcement that took place at Cities Church in St. Paul on January 18.
Protesters entered the church during worship and disrupted the service.
Lemon and others, according to federal prosecutors, went beyond simply recording events to engage in behavior that violated the rights of congregants.
According to Lemon’s attorneys, his reporting is protected by the First Amendment and he was operating as an independent journalist.
A grand jury in Minnesota indicted Lemon and eight co defendants on civil rights related charges related to religious freedom at a place of worship, referenced in US media reports.
At the Los Angeles hearing, the prosecution requested conditions such as a bond, but the court granted Lemon freedom while the case is being handled.
CBS News reported his next hearing is scheduled for February 9 in federal court in Minneapolis.
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Lemon spoke in a defiant manner outside the court. “I will not be silenced,” Don Lemon declared to reporters.
According to Reuters, his attorney indicated a not guilty plea, and his defense team has stated that he will contest the charges in Minnesota.
Attorney General Pam Bondi presented the case as safeguarding worshippers while promoting the arrests on the internet.”You have the right to worship freely and safely,” she stated in an online video.
Civil rights leaders and supporters of press freedom have criticized the arrests, claiming the prosecution runs the risk of suppressing reporting on protests.
