Ann Doucette, a Minnesota resident, has initiated a civil lawsuit against Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor, over his involvement in a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18. The lawsuit, which also names other participants in the incident, was first reported by TMZ. Doucette is claiming damages for "severe emotional distress, fear, anxiety, and trauma" as a result of the church service disruption.
The incident at Cities Church occurred against the backdrop of a series of protests in the Minneapolis area, sparked in part by the death of Renee Good, a 37-year-old anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activist. Good was shot and killed on January 7 after allegedly attempting to interfere with an ICE operation and subsequently trying to run over an ICE officer with her vehicle.
According to reports, Don Lemon and other protesters entered the church to confront a pastor they believed had cooperated with ICE. The Department of Justice has since arrested Lemon and charged him with several federal offenses, including conspiracy to deprive rights and interfering by force with someone’s First Amendment rights. Additionally, charges under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, known as the FACE Act, and the Ku Klux Klan Act have been filed.
The federal case against Lemon has been brought under the administration of President Donald Trump, and the public response has been diverse. On social media platform X, reactions have varied, with some users expressing support for Doucette's lawsuit and calling for others in attendance to take similar legal action. One user referred to Lemon as "Demon Lemon" and expressed a desire for church members to sue all protesters involved, potentially leading to Lemon's bankruptcy.
This incident highlights the tensions surrounding immigration policies and the actions of ICE, as well as the legal ramifications of protest activities that intersect with religious services. The lawsuit and subsequent charges raise questions about the limits of peaceful protest and the protections afforded to religious gatherings.
