ST PAUL, United States: Former CNN anchor Don Lemon pleaded not responsible on Friday (Feb 13) to federal civil rights prices stemming from his coverage of an immigration protest in Minnesota.
Lemon, now an impartial journalist, was amongst reporters who lined a protest final month at a St. Paul church the place an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official is a pastor.
Lemon, one other reporter and 7 different individuals are accused of conspiring in opposition to the suitable to non secular freedom and with interfering with the suitable to train spiritual freedom at a spot of worship.
Lemon, who livestreamed the church protest, pleaded not responsible to the costs throughout a short look in a federal courtroom in St. Paul, the dual metropolis of Minneapolis.
Chatting with reporters afterwards, Lemon mentioned the costs are an assault on the First Modification to the US Structure, which ensures freedom of speech and of the press.
“This is not nearly me,” Lemon mentioned. “That is about all journalists, particularly right here in america.”
“For greater than 30 years I have been a journalist and the ability and safety of the First Modification has been the underpinning of my work,” he mentioned.
“I can’t be intimidated. I can’t again down. I’ll battle these baseless prices and I can’t be silenced,” Lemon mentioned.
