‘I’m just the journalist’: Don Lemon defends his presence at anti-ICE church protest

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Former CNN anchor Don Lemon is pushing back against criticism over his involvement in a controversial anti-ICE protest inside a Minneapolis church, insisting he was acting as a journalist, not an agitator, despite acknowledging that the demonstration disrupted the peace.

Lemon addressed the backlash during an appearance on the podcast ‘I’ve Had It’ with host Jennifer Welch, where he recounted how he ended up inside the church during the protest earlier this month.

Don Lemon details role in Minneapolis anti-ICE protest

According to Lemon, he traveled to Minneapolis to cover unrest related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and was alerted to a planned protest while on the ground. He said flyers had been circulating and that sources suggested the protest might be worth covering.

“I said, sure, I’ll cover it,” Lemon explained, adding that he initially believed he was documenting events rather than participating in them. 

He said the protest was framed by organizers as a modern-day, civil rights–style demonstration designed to disrupt everyday spaces, similar to how activists once staged sit-ins at segregated lunch counters or challenged whites-only water fountains.

“They show up places and they sort of disrupt the peace,” he said, drawing a direct comparison to historic civil rights actions.

Don Lemon says protest shifted inside church

Lemon said he was unaware that the protest would move into a church until it happened. Once demonstrators entered the building, other journalists followed, and Lemon said he did the same.

“They ended up at a church. I didn’t even know they were going to a church,” he said. Inside, Lemon said he conducted interviews with everyone involved, including protesters, congregants, and the pastor, describing his actions as straightforward reporting.

Despite this, Lemon said the narrative quickly shifted, casting him as the face of the protest rather than an observer. “I’m not exactly sure, Jen, how I became the face of it unless they just think I’m the bigger name,” he said, calling the backlash “bizarre.” 

Don Lemon defends journalism role at anti-ICE protest

Lemon acknowledged that the protest disrupted the church service but rejected accusations that he orchestrated or led the demonstration. “Somehow I’m the agitator here when I’m just the journalist,” he said.

He later doubled down on that defense, describing his presence inside the church as “an act of journalism,” not activism. The incident has reignited broader debates about journalistic neutrality, particularly when reporters embed themselves in politically charged demonstrations.

Critics argue that Lemon crossed a line by physically entering the protest space, while supporters say documenting such moments often requires close proximity. For Lemon, however, the distinction is clear. “I reported on it,” he said. “That was it.”