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Don Lemon Says He Was Practicing Journalism After DOJ Warns Him He’s “On Notice” for Livestreaming Protest Inside Church [Video] Don Lemon says he was simply doing his job when he livestreamed an anti ICE protest that unfolded inside a St. Paul, Minnesota church during Sunday services, even as a Justice Department official warned him he was “on notice.” Video Don Lemon addressed the controversy on Instagram Monday, explaining why he believes his actions were protected under the First Amendment. “We were there chronicling protests,” Lemon said during a sit-down with Jennifer Welch. “Once the protest started in the church, we did an act of journalism, which was report on it and talk to the people who are involved, which included the pastor, members of the church and members of the organization. That’s it. It’s called journalism, First Amendment, all that stuff.” The response from Washington was swift. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon posted on Twitter that the First Amendment does “not protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service. You are on notice!” Dhillon later expanded on her position during an interview with podcaster Benny Johnson, arguing that Lemon knowingly entered a volatile situation. She said Lemon “has come out and said he knew exactly what was going to happen inside that facility,” and criticized the idea that “committing journalism” could shield someone from being “an embedded part of a criminal conspiracy.” Lemon has denied any coordination with protesters. During the livestream, he told viewers, “I had no affiliation,” adding that he did not even know the group planned to enter the church until reporters followed them. At another point, Lemon made his role clear, saying, “I’m not going to get in the middle of it, because I’m not here as an activist. I’m here as a journalist.” The demonstration centered on claims that one of the church’s officials worked for ICE. Dhillon has said the Justice Department is reviewing the protest under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and the Ku Klux Klan Act, both tied to protecting civil rights and access to places of worship. Lemon also responded to backlash online, including a post from Nicki Minaj that used a slur and called for his arrest. His reply was direct: “Stop talking about s— for which you know nothing about.” As scrutiny continues, Lemon maintains that documenting events as they happen is not activism. He insists it is journalism, plain and simple. https://balleralert.com/profiles/blogs/don-lemon-church-protest-doj-warning/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky