1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my deep concern about the recent arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort in connection with their coverage of a January 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. These arrests represent a dangerous escalation against press freedom that demands immediate congressional oversight. Don Lemon, a journalist with 30 years of experience, was arrested by federal officers Thursday night in Los Angeles while covering the Grammy Awards. Independent journalist Georgia Fort was arrested Friday morning and documented her confusion about how her constitutional rights could be violated while simply filming as a member of the press. Both arrests stem from their coverage of the church protest, though specific charges remain unclear. This lack of transparency is itself troubling. The timing and nature of these arrests suggest a coordinated effort to intimidate journalists covering immigration enforcement activities. When reporters face arrest for documenting events of public concern, the First Amendment protections that safeguard our democracy are fundamentally threatened. Attorney Abbe Lowell characterized Lemon's arrest as an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and a transparent attempt to distract from administration crises. These arrests occur against a backdrop of broader constitutional violations. Chief Federal Judge Patrick Schiltz, a George W. Bush appointee who clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia, issued a scathing rebuke stating that ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence. He documented 74 cases with over 90 violations involving individuals with no criminal records, valid work permits, and pending asylum petitions being held without due process. I urge you to demand the immediate release of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, call for congressional hearings on these arrests, and support legislation protecting journalists from arrest while engaged in constitutionally protected newsgathering activities. Press freedom is not negotiable, and these arrests set a chilling precedent that threatens accountability journalism nationwide.