Minnesota Woman Sues Don Lemon Over Church Protest Disruption

A Minnesota woman has filed a civil lawsuit against former CNN anchor Don Lemon and several protesters, alleging they disrupted a church worship service and caused her severe emotional distress. The suit, filed by Ann Doucette, stems from an incident on January 18 at The Cities Church in St. Paul, where Lemon and others entered during a service to protest federal immigration enforcement operations.

Doucette claims in court documents that the group unlawfully interfered with her First Amendment right to freely exercise her religion in a private place of worship. She is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for emotional distress, fear, anxiety, and trauma resulting from the disruption. The lawsuit names Lemon and activists including Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Allen, William Kelly, Jamael Lundy, Trahern Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jerome Richardson as defendants. It further alleges that Lemon, who livestreamed parts of the event, appeared to take satisfaction in the interruption, and that one protester admitted on social media to providing logistical support and local contacts for the operation.

The church intrusion occurred amid a series of protests in the Minneapolis area...