Former CNN anchor Don Lemon, independent journalist Georgia Fort and two other people were arrested by federal authorities, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on X Jan. 30.

The National Press Foundation is alarmed by the arrest of Don Lemon and others in connection with their coverage of a protest at a Minnesota church earlier this month. Journalism is not a crime. Arresting reporters engaged in routine newsgathering is incompatible with the First Amendment and undermines the public’s ability to stay informed about matters of public concern.

They were charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers. Both Fort and Lemon have vowed to continue reporting on ICE.

Resources for Journalists

Whether it is a citizens’ protest, immigration raid or police action in public spaces, the First Amendment offers strong protections for journalists’ access to potential news events. For journalists looking for clarity, see the session NPF held with Stephen Solomon, who teaches First Amendment law at New York University.

National Press Photographers Association general counsel Mickey Osterreicher also explains how the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments come into play for journalists, and other laws reporters and photographers on the ground should know.