Minnesota journalist Georgia Fort was arrested Friday morning after federal agents arrived at her home in connection with a Jan. 18 protest at a St. Paul church. Fort livestreamed the arrest, raising new questions about press protections during protests and demonstrations.
Minnesota journalist Georgia Fort was arrested Friday morning after federal agents arrived at her home in connection with a Jan. 18 protest at a St. Paul church, an action she documented as a member of the press.
Fort livestreamed the encounter as agents executed an arrest warrant, making the moment publicly visible in real time. Her arrest stems from her presence at a demonstration at Cities Church, where protesters entered the sanctuary following reports that the church’s pastor leads a local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office.
The protest was part of a broader response to heightened immigration enforcement activity in Minnesota. Fort filmed the demonstration in her capacity as an independent journalist.
Fort is the founder of BLCK Press, a Minnesota-based social enterprise newsroom that connects journalism with Black culture and community-centered storytelling. She also serves as president of the Center for Broadcast Journalism, a 501(c)(3) organization focused on expanding access and representation in the media workforce and supporting the next generation of journalists.
Her arrest follows the detention of Don Lemon, who was taken into custody the night before in Los Angeles while covering the Grammy Awards. Both arrests are tied to the same St. Paul church protest, though authorities have not publicly detailed all charges related to the case.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi later confirmed the arrests, stating they were ordered in connection with what federal authorities described as a coordinated action targeting the church. In addition to Fort and Lemon, local activists Trahern Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy were also named in the enforcement action.
Several Minnesota-based activists have also been arrested in connection with the protest in recent days, including civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong. Federal officials have described the arrests as part of an investigation into what they characterized as a coordinated action at the church.
Fort’s arrest has drawn attention within journalism and community circles because of its implications for newsgathering and the role of the press during protests and demonstrations. Legal observers note that the Constitution provides protections for both freedom of the press and peaceful assembly, particularly when journalists are documenting matters of public concern.
As the legal process unfolds, questions remain about how those protections are being interpreted and applied in this case.
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder will continue reporting on developments related to Fort’s arrest and its broader legal and constitutional implications.