Morning Wire The Don Lemon Church Protest Case and the FACE Act Fight
26 snips
Mar 15, 2026 
Kristen Waggoner, President and CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom and veteran First Amendment litigator. She breaks down the Minnesota church storming, Don Lemon’s on-camera actions, and whether the FACE Act applies to houses of worship. Short takes on obstruction, reconnaissance, and how this law has been used and contested.
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Don Lemon's Role Suggests Coordinated Disruption
- Don Lemon participated in planning and filming the storming of a St. Paul church service tied to protests about ICE and immigration.
- Kristen Waggoner cites his own footage and statements about doing "reconnaissance" as evidence of coordinated disruption rather than mere reporting.
Church Chosen Because Pastor Worked For ICE
- The St. Paul church targeted had a pastor who also worked at the local ICE field office, making it a chosen target.
- Waggoner explains Minnesota Black Lives Matter organizers selected that church because of the pastor's ICE role.
First Amendment Doesn't Void Private Property Rules
- First Amendment rights don't allow journalists to enter private property or disrupt worship services without permission.
- Waggoner emphasizes trespass and free exercise rights as limits on speech during a private church service.