Black members of the press have educated the public about the injustices and oppression in America since the establishment of the first Black newspaper, Freedom’s Journal, in 1827. Now, two-centuries later, independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort face federal charges after their coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest, adding to the long history of Black journalists and the rights that exist under the First Amendment of the Constitution.
“This isn’t just about me, this is about all journalists, especially in the United States,” said Lemon during a press conference outside of a Los Angeles courthouse. “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.”
Last week, Lemon pleaded not guilty to all charges related to his coverage of protests against the Trump Administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Minnesota. The former CNN news anchor, Fort and seven others are all listed in the federal indictment under two counts for allegedly conspiring against the rights of 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. Temple University student Jerome Richardson was also arrested for assisting Lemon and among the names listed in the indictment.
Several national journalists associations have voiced their outrage and concern of reporters’ First Amendment rights. In a statement, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) said, “A government that responds to scrutiny by targeting the messenger is not protecting the public, it is attempting to intimidate it, and considering recent incidents regarding federal agents, it is attempting to distract it.” This comes after the federal government’s recent 10-week-long occupation in Minnesota resulted in ICE agents shooting and killing two Minneapolis residents, Renee Good and Alexi Pretti, and thousands of arrests.
NABJ continued, “The selective targeting of journalists— especially, Black and LGBTQIA journalists— raises urgent concerns about unequal enforcement and retaliatory policing of the press.”
For generations, Black journalists from outlets like the Freedom’s Journal, The North Star, The Crisis, Chicago Defender, Ebony, Jet, ESSENCE and many others have collectively added a new voice to documenting the struggles, achievements and experiences of Black people across the country. From the anti-slavery movement, Jim Crow, the Civil Right Movement and decades of resistance and empowerment, these outlets have provided a platform to fight oppression through truth and education in reporting.
“The Black press has always been a vital source of information for Black readers whose stories were often ignored by mainstream media,” said Phil Lewis, president of the Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ).
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