• Don Lemon pleads not guilty to charges related to a church protest against immigration raids.
• The protest disrupted a service in St. Paul, leading to Lemon's legal challenges.
• His lawyer claims the case is an attack on First Amendment rights.
• Lemon live-streamed the protest, which he claims was his duty as a journalist.
• The incident has sparked significant political discourse regarding media rights and immigration policies.

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon is due in federal court in Minnesota to plead not guilty to charges stemming from his coverage of a protest at a church against President Donald Trump's immigration policies. The protest, which took place on January 18 at Cities Church in St. Paul, was sparked by the deployment of armed immigration agents in the area, disrupting the church service. Lemon faces charges of conspiring to deprive others of their civil rights and obstructing access to a place of worship, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

Lemon's legal situation has raised free speech concerns, as his lawyer argues that these charges constitute an attack on First Amendment rights. "This is not just about me; it’s about the rights of journalists to cover events," Lemon emphasized. The case has drawn additional attention due to Trump's repeated criticisms of the media and his administration's aggressive stance on immigration enforcement, according to BBC and Reuters.

During the protest, Lemon livestreamed the events inside the church where congregants were disrupted by activists chanting against the immigration policies, fueled by recent fatalities involving U.S. immigration enforcement. Lemon defended his actions, claiming he was covering the news and not participating in the protest. His entry into the church has led to broader criticisms of how current media landscapes are treated under the law, highlighting concerns about journalist protections amidst heightened political tensions, as noted by South China Morning Post and BBC.

Apart from Lemon, several co-defendants, including fellow journalists, are also facing similar charges of conspiracy against religious freedoms. The legal implications of this case could have lasting effects on how protests involving the media are handled in the future, especially concerning First Amendment protections, according to BBC and South China Morning Post.