by Michaela BramwellBuzzFeedBuzzFeed Staff This week, former CNN journalist Don Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles by federal agents and taken into custody. Dominik Bindl / Getty Images According to CNN, on Jan. 18, Lemon followed a group of anti-ICE protestors into a Minnesota church, where protestors interrupted a worship service. Lemon's "livestream reporting" of the protest included an interview with the church's pastor, who called the protest "unacceptable." @TheDonLemonShow / Via youtube.com Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on X that Lemon and three other journalists were arrested because of their "connection with the coordinated attack" on the church. @AGPamBondi / Via x.com According to CBS News, Lemon has been indicted on "one count each of conspiracy against religious freedom at a place of worship and injuring, intimidating, and interfering with the exercise of the right of religious freedom at a place of worship." Mario Tama / Getty Images After being released from federal custody on Jan. 30, Lemon spoke out for the first time in a now-viral clip:Don Lemon speaks outside of the courtroom after release: "I have spent my entire life covering the news. I will not stop now ... I will not be silenced." pic.twitter.com/zgXKXlDQwC- philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) January 30, 2026 CNN / Via Twitter: @Phil_Lewis_ "I want to thank everybody for their support. It truly means the world to me. I have no idea what's going on because obviously I haven't seen anything." CNN / Via youtube.com "I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now. In fact, there is no more important time than right now, this very moment, for a free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable. Again, I will not stop now, I will not stop ever." CNN / Via youtube.com "Last night, the DOJ sent a team of federal agents to arrest me in the middle of the night for something that I had been doing for the last 30 years, and that is covering the news. The First Amendment of the Constitution protects that work for me and for countless other journalists who do what I do." CNN / Via youtube.com "I stand with all of them. And I will not be silenced. I look forward to my day in court." CNN / Via youtube.com So far, many people online have expressed anger about Lemon's arrest. "This crooked fucking administration is more concerned about imprisoning journalists than going after Epstein conspirators," one person said. @jaubreyYT / Via x.com Dr. Martin Luther King III called Lemon's arrest a "wake-up call" for everyone. @OfficialMLK3 / Via x.com "This is horrifying...this absolutely cannot stand," journalist Jemele Hill agreed. @jemelehill / Via x.com Lemon's former employer, CNN, also spoke out after his arrest, calling it "profoundly concerning." @CNNPR / Via x.com What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below. Comments