"President Donald Trump and his administration, over the past 10 years, have stooped to many low and distressing levels in their all-out assault on the media: lawsuits, threats of lawsuits, bans, funding cuts and insults. But last week, the administration did what was previously thought of as unthinkable. It reached for an even more ominous attack. It arrested two journalists."
"After a court appearance in Los Angeles late Friday, Lemon told reporters, "I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now. There is no more important time than right now, this very moment, for a free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable." He added, "I look forward to my day in court.""
"Amnesty International said, "Journalism is not a crime. Reporting on protests is not a crime. Arresting journalists for their reporting is a clear example of an authoritarian practice." Trump claimed he didn't know anything about the Lemon arrest, but then added, "He's a sleazebag. Everyone's known that. He's a washup. Probably from his standpoint, the best thing that could have happened to him.""
Two journalists, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon and independent reporter Georgia Fort, were arrested after a protest at a Minnesota church and charged with violating federal law and churchgoers' constitutional right to worship. Authorities say Lemon entered a church with protesters opposing the administration's immigration policies; Lemon maintains he was reporting. Lemon vowed to continue covering the news and to defend press freedom in court. Amnesty International condemned the arrests as authoritarian and stated that reporting on protests is not a crime. President Trump denied prior knowledge yet disparaged Lemon, and media figures called the arrests a startling escalation.
Read at Poynter
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]