Don Lemon Compares Church Invasion to Jesus Cleansing Temple, Calls Christians White Supremacists
Former CNN Host Defends Disrupting Worship Service, Accuses Congregation of Entitlement and Racism
Former CNN host Don Lemon likened his participation in disrupting a Minnesota church service to Jesus Christ overturning tables in the temple and implied that the outraged congregants were white supremacists. Lemon made the comments during an interview on the liberal I've Had It podcast Monday, defending his role in the Sunday invasion of Cities Church in St. Paul.
"Jesus turned the tables over in the temple, right? He flipped the tables because He was tired of them not doing what they're supposed to do in His Father's house, and not living up to the tenets of Christianity," Lemon said. He accompanied anti ICE agitators who interrupted the Sunday service at the Baptist congregation to protest that one of its pastors also serves as acting director of the ICE St. Paul field office.
Lemon Interrogates Pastor From Pulpit, Calls Congregants Entitled White Supremacists
Lemon criticized Rev. Jonathan Parnell, the lead pastor who denounced the disruptive protest as shameful and calmly asked protesters to leave while Lemon interrogated him at his pulpit about the U.S. Constitution. "I think if you are going to be a representative of the Lord and of God, then perhaps you should conduct yourself as such," Lemon said, acknowledging that having a church service upended is unusual but claiming it represents American constitutional rights.
Lemon suggested ICE agents and the congregants of Cities Church are racist. "I think people who are in religious groups like that, it's not the type of Christianity that I practice, but I think that they're entitled, and that entitlement comes from a supremacy, a white supremacy, and they think that this country was built for them," Lemon said.
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the protesters for potential violations of federal law, including the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994, which prohibits intentionally injuring, intimidating, or interfering with anyone seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship. President Donald Trump called Lemon a loser lightweight and expressed admiration for Pastor Parnell's calm response.
TAKE ACTION
Demand Don Lemon Face Consequences: • Contact podcast I've Had It demanding they remove the episode and apologize: social media @IveHadItPodcast • Report Lemon's participation in church invasion to DOJ Civil Rights Division: civilrights.justice.gov
Support Cities Church: • Cities Church Support: www.citieschurch.com (provide financial assistance) • Email: contact through website
Church Protection: • Alliance Defending Freedom: www.adflegal.org/donate (legal defense for invaded churches) • Email: info@adflegal.org | Phone: 1-800-835-5233
What You Can Do Today: • Contact media outlets demanding they stop platforming Don Lemon after he participated in church invasion • File complaints with DOJ demanding prosecution of all church invaders including Lemon • Share Cities Church statement condemning the invasion on social media • Demand sponsors of I've Had It podcast pull advertising from shows defending religious persecution • Pray for Pastor Jonathan Parnell and the frightened families who fled Cities Church during invasion • Support legal efforts to prosecute every person who violated federal church protection laws Sunday
