Don Lemon suggested the racial background of protesters may have prevented Minnesota churchgoers from recognizing him as a “journalist.”
The former CNN host, who pleaded not guilty to federal charges after joining activists who took their protest inside a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, offered his new take on the incident, claiming “the bulk of the protesters were black.”
Lemon’s former CNN colleague Jim Acosta asked him about his arrest and the legal proceedings stemming from the federal charges, playing a video clip of Lemon telling churchgoers, “I’m not part of the group. I’m just here photographing. I’m a journalist.”
Don Lemon says people didn’t think he was a journalist when he stormed the church in MN because he’s black
No Don…. It’s because you livestreamed yourself joining rioters and storming a church
But of course he makes it about race.. pic.twitter.com/hGv0qaqox4
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 19, 2026
“I don’t know. It’s weird because they kept saying it even when I told them that I’m not,” Lemon said.
“And I think they were looking at me, and because the bulk of the protesters were black, maybe they thought because I’m black that– and I kept saying, ‘I’m not a protester. I’m here covering the protest. I’m not with them,’” he added.
“And they were, you know, they just for some reason could not understand,” he told Acosta. “So why they couldn’t figure that out, I don’t know.”
Lemon, who was fired from CNN in April 2023, was indicted by a grand jury along with eight co-defendants on charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers in the January protest.
“I wanted to say this isn’t just about me, this is about all journalists, especially in the United States,” Lemon said outside the court earlier this month.
“For more than 30 years, I’ve been a journalist, and the power and protection of the First Amendment has been the underpinning of my work. The First Amendment, freedom of the press, is the bedrock of our democracy,” he said.
His reach for the race card in his latest take on the church protest earned him well-deserved mockery on social media.
Must be comforting to always have the race card to pull out for every single thing that happens in your life that calls for you to be held accountable for your actions.
— ᛭ Ian ᛭ (@KnightspurHouse) February 19, 2026
When you join rioters, storm a church, and hit “Go Live,” people aren’t being racist, they’re being observant.
— Grew2fast (@realgrew2fast) February 19, 2026
Classic Lemon: storms a church, gets charged under civil rights laws, then cries racism. The irony writes itself.
— Keaton Hobby (@RealKeatonHobby) February 19, 2026
It has to be exhausting to play the victim every second of every day.
— J.austen (@jaycantrell85) February 19, 2026
Actually the people did not believe Don Lemon was not a journalist is because Don Lemon is not a journalist.
— AZchilly (@AZchilly) February 19, 2026
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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