1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

I am outraged by the news that journalist Don Lemon has been taken into federal custody by U.S. authorities while doing his job covering important events, including a protest in Minnesota. According to reporting from The New York Times, federal agents detained him in Los Angeles after his work at a church protest earlier this month. This apparent targeting of a working journalist threatens the very foundation of our democracy. The First Amendment exists to protect freedom of the press — not to penalize journalists for reporting the truth. The public deserves uncensored information, and any action that chills journalism must be met with strong condemnation. I urge Congress to act swiftly: demand Mr. Lemon’s immediate release, conduct oversight of the Justice Department’s actions, and reaffirm that press freedom in America will not be infringed.