The Washington Post’s editorial board has labeled the recent protests at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, as an “attack on religious freedom,” taking particular aim at former CNN anchor Don Lemon, who reported on the events firsthand, referring to him as an “Internet provocateur.”
In a Saturday editorial, the Post expressed concern over the declining state of American political culture, noting that one troubling trend is how places of worship have increasingly turned into venues for uninvited political protests.
The editorial described the protest last Sunday, where over 20 activists entered Cities Church in search of a pastor employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The pastor wasn’t present, yet the protesters chose to stay, disrupting the service despite requests to leave.
Thousands also demonstrated at the Swarm Target Center in Minneapolis, calling for the removal of ICE from Minnesota.
The Post criticized the portrayal of Lemon during the protests, indicating that “internet agitators” have traumatized children attending church services. It cited a moment from a livestream where Lemon, showing support for the demonstrators, acknowledged the discomfort and trauma the situation could cause, prompting the editorial to question whether such actions are harmful to children practicing their faith.
Lemon was not immediately available for comment on the matter.
The editorial stressed that houses of worship should remain sacred spaces for spiritual connection, arguing that hijacking these events for political motives not only proves counterproductive, but also undermines the very fabric of civic life.
While the protesters voiced legitimate concerns over ICE’s operations, the Post emphasized that intimidating law-abiding citizens doesn’t further the cause for reform.
The editorial drew parallels between the experiences of Christians facing protests in their places of worship and those of Jewish Americans, stating that Christians may need to take similar precautions, like hiring security or erecting barriers, to ensure their right to practice faith peacefully.
It also touched on the peaceful protest of around 100 clergy who were arrested without incident at a Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport in demonstrations against deportation flights, presenting it as an inspirational model for future activism.
The newspaper invoked the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting that he never disrupted another’s worship uninvited. Furthermore, it commented that the public is largely horrified by viral footage showing alleged mistreatment by ICE agents and noted a decline in support for Trump’s deportation strategies without resorting to intimidation tactics against supporters.
The editorial concluded by reiterating that the First Amendment protects both the right to protest and the free exercise of religion, emphasizing that one does not outweigh the other.
Lemon has previously stated he stands by his reporting, asserting that he faced numerous threats online, including those laden with homophobic and racist remarks inspired by some right-wing outlets. He reflected on how the narrative surrounding him as the face of the protests was misleading, and urged that energy should be redirected toward addressing the issues that sparked the protests, such as the tragic death of Renee Nicole Good. He maintains his position on the importance of accurate journalism.
