Statement on the Arrest of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort

Late last night federal law enforcement arrested journalists Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy for doing their Constitutionally-protected jobs reporting on the ongoing protests in Minneapolis. They made these arrests even after a federal judge told them not to do so. 

None of these journalists committed a crime. They are being punished as a threat — to other journalists who continue to hold power to account and to we the people, who know that attacking our freedoms is wrong and anti-American. 

This is not subtle. Over and over, we’ve seen this administration employ tactics of dictatorships and authoritarian regimes to keep us silent and ill-informed. The government is engaging in all out assault on our First Amendment rights to document and dissent and attacking anyone working to amplify information they don’t like or that differs from their “official narrative.” 

We’ve reached another pivotal turning point: It’s time for every single one of us to fight back. Everyone who cares about freedom, democracy, and their own ability to express themselves should be outraged and speaking out. They want us scared and quiet, but we can’t let fear win.