Don Lemon says some religious groups’ ‘entitlement’ stems from White supremacy after backlash

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA: Former CNN anchor Don Lemon defended his actions after joining anti-ICE protesters in a St. Paul church during a Sunday service, linking criticism to what he described as a sense of "entitlement" among some religious groups stemming from White supremacy.

Lemon’s remarks came during his appearance on the 'I’ve Had It' podcast, where he stood by his decision to document the protest, emphasizing that demonstrations, even controversial ones, are protected forms of expression under the First Amendment. 

Don Lemon defends protest coverage citing First Amendment rights

Lemon, who has been independently documenting protests in Minnesota following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, entered Cities Church alongside demonstrators and recorded parts of the service. He said his intent was to spotlight what he views as unconstitutional enforcement practices by ICE, not to target religious communities.

“The whole point of it is they’re detaining people on the streets because of accents and the color of their skin,” Lemon said. “They’re also targeting Black and Brown people, so there is a certain degree of racism there.”

He noted he was unaware that protesters planned to enter the church during services but maintained that covering the events was a matter of public interest.

Don Lemon attributes backlash to White supremacy and cultural dynamics

During the podcast, Lemon suggested that much of the criticism directed at him reflected broader cultural dynamics tied to race and power. “I think people who are, you know, in the religious groups like that, it’s not the type of Christianity I practice, but I think that they’re entitled, and that entitlement comes from a supremacy, a White supremacy,” he said.

Lemon expressed surprise at how quickly the narrative shifted from the protest itself to his presence. He recounted that his producer explained: “Don, you’re a gay, Black man in America and you have a platform, and you’re the biggest name. Of course, you’re going to be the person that they single out.”

Don Lemon faces threats but stands by coverage

In a statement to Fox News, Lemon said he received “violent threats” over the incident, which he attributed to MAGA supporters and right-wing media amplification. He urged critics to focus on the underlying issue—the tragic death of Renee Nicole Good—rather than manufacturing outrage over his reporting.

“If this much time and energy is going to be spent manufacturing outrage,” Lemon said, “it would be far better used investigating the tragic death of Renee Nicole Good, the very issue that brought people into the streets in the first place the very issue that brought people into the streets in the first place.”

Despite threats, Lemon reaffirmed, “I stand by my reporting,” underscoring his commitment to covering protests and ICE enforcement in Minnesota.