"Earlier this week, the Trump administration attempted to prosecute journalist Don Lemon for his coverage of protests inside a Minneapolis church. The protesters had flooded the church to call for the resignation of pastor David Easterwood, who allegedly works for ICE. But on Thursday, a federal magistrate in Minnesota rejected the criminal complaint filed by the Department of Justice-a ruling that allegedly " enraged " Attorney General Pam Bondi."
"I will say that there are good First Amendment reasons to protect the sanctity of houses of worship. Protecting people from being harassed while they are inside their places of worship is the legally right thing to do to protect people's free exercise of religion, even if we think the people worshiping are misguided or even evil in some way. Protesting outside of a person's church (or house) is great. Protesting inside a person's sanctuary is violative, and unnecessarily so."
Federal authorities attempted to criminally charge journalist Don Lemon for covering protesters who entered a Minneapolis church to demand Pastor David Easterwood's resignation amid allegations he works for ICE. A federal magistrate in Minnesota rejected the Department of Justice's complaint, a decision that allegedly enraged Attorney General Pam Bondi. Two activists, Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen, were arrested by the FBI in connection with the protest. Critics have debated the methods of protesting inside houses of worship. Strong First Amendment reasons support protecting sanctity of worship spaces and the right of journalists to cover protests, especially given ICE's history of violating sanctuaries.
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