The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists strongly condemns the wrongful arrests of journalists Georgia Fort and Don Lemon for reporting on a church protest in St. Paul.
We are alarmed by these escalating actions by the Trump administration that attack freedom of the press. Journalists have not only the right, but the responsibility to observe and report events in the public interest. It is not illegal to document a protest against the federal government. The fact that the protest took place in a church does not negate journalists’ First Amendment rights to report. The effort to punish independent reporting is an effort to weaken democracy.
Fort is an Emmy-Award winning journalist who has paved the way for independent journalism in Minnesota. As the founder of BLCK Press and the Center for Broadcast Journalism and a former MNSPJ board member, Fort is a pillar of our Minnesota journalism community. She has a passion for making the profession more accessible and has mentored and trained countless young journalists.
Lemon, a nationally recognized journalist, visited Minnesota to report the truth and hold those in power accountable. Formerly a longtime CNN anchor, Lemon has reported in the U.S. for 30 years.
If Fort and Lemon’s cases proceed, it would seriously undermine both the freedom of the press and the rule of law.
We urge the federal government to remember the importance of the First Amendment. The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists has recorded several acts of violence against journalists from federal law enforcement in the last month. The failure to stop these acts sets a dangerous precedent for censoring the truth.
The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists will continue its commitment to protect press freedom and advocate for any journalists in our state who experience a First Amendment violation.
Founded in 1956, the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists champions journalists by recognizing outstanding achievement, fighting to protect press freedom, promoting high ethical standards and educating new generations of emerging professionals. Sign up for our newsletter or become a member today to support Minnesota journalism.