Former CNN host Don Lemon addressed his actions in a TikTok video posted on Sunday, discussing a disruption caused by a protest against immigration enforcement during a church service in Minneapolis.
In a YouTube livestream, Lemon showed footage from the event, arriving about 40 minutes into the service at Cities Church. He responded to questions from Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights. An announcement on X informed followers that the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division is looking into the incident.
“People are overreacting about things that aren’t true. Just to clarify, this assistant attorney general—what’s her name? Hammett Dillon or something like that—I’m not affiliated with that group,” Lemon stated. “We only learned about the church visit when we were following the protest.”
Lemon continued, explaining that, “Once the protests broke out at the church, we did our job as journalists, reported on it, and spoke with pastors and attendees.” He emphasized the importance of journalism and mentioned the need for people to address any concerns directly with the organizers of the protest.
Throughout the livestream, Lemon defended the protesters, mentioning that the constitution protects various forms of protest. He remarked, “The idea is to raise confusion and discomfort.”
At one point during the livestream, he noted the cold weather, mentioning that Minneapolis’s high was just 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and described the situation as “disturbing and traumatic” for the congregation. “Look at this guy holding a child; I think that’s really uncomfortable for everyone here,” he said, while also warning photographers about slippery spots outside.
Before the interruption of the service, Lemon hinted that he was aware of the protesters’ plans, referring to it as “Operation Suspension.” He indicated that the actions of Nekima Levy Armstrong aimed to surprise people and hold them accountable, drawing comparisons to past events like those surrounding George Floyd and Daunte Wright.
In reaction to the incident, Attorney General Pam Bondi called for a strong federal response, tweeting that “attacks on law enforcement and threats against Christians will face the full might of federal law.” She asserted that if state officials don’t take preventive measures, the Department of Justice will pursue federal prosecution to uphold the rule of law.
The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which has mainly been used against pro-life demonstrators, also prohibits the disruption of religious services, as noted in a Sunday post by Dillon on X.
