Don Lemon Was Arrested Just for Doing His Job

"One great flaw in authoritarian systems is that they are fundamentally absurd. The critical moment in any attempt to unravel them is when the absurdity becomes so obvious that people begin to laugh at the system instead of fearing it. The key is to recognize that moment when it comes, and to laugh all the louder when it does. From The New York Times:"

"The former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested late Thursday night on charges that he violated federal law during a protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, his lawyer said, in a case rejected last week by a magistrate judge. Mr. Lemon has said he was simply reporting as a journalist when he entered the Cities Church on January 18 to observe a demonstration against the immigration crackdown in the area."

Authoritarian systems reveal a critical weakness when their absurdity becomes obvious and provokes laughter rather than fear. A prominent journalist was arrested for entering a church to observe a protest and was later cited in a case that a magistrate judge found insufficient. The Justice Department sought additional warrants and was denied by an appeals court. The arrest evokes historical parallels to attacks on the press during the civil rights era, when reporters covering protests faced violence, smashed equipment, and legal intimidation. Legal counsel plans to secure release and challenges to the charges are likely to follow.

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