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.
Independent journalist Georgia Fort was arrested the morning of Jan. 30 by the FBI, along with three others, in connection with her reporting on the Cities Church protest earlier this month. All three were released later that same day. Fort’s arrest has drawn widespread outrage from both the community and fellow journalists.
“She’s amazing, honestly. She’s very smart and caring. Just overall a good person,” said Emilio, a friend of Fort’s daughter. Anaya, another friend of her daughter, called Fort “a regular mom.”
“She doesn’t do anything but work for her family and keep them fed, and I think she’s done such an amazing job,” Anaya said. “I feel like she doesn’t deserve this at all. It’s sad for her family. My heart breaks for them. It’s a little scary because she has the right to do everything she got arrested for.”
Fort was taken into custody at her home, an arrest she streamed live on Facebook. She is a celebrated, award-winning Minnesota journalist, founder of BLCK Press, and co-founder of the Center for Broadcast Journalism and its training radio station, Power 104.7 FM.
According to Fort, the officers obtained a warrant after the Department of Justice allegedly presented the matter to a grand jury. She was one of four people arrested by the DOJ Friday morning, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon, and activists Trahern Crews and Jamael Lundy, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The arrests relate to an incident on January 18, when civil rights activists interrupted a church service at Cities Church after discovering that the pastor, David Easterwood, also served as Field Director for ICE in Minnesota. Fort, present at the church, reported on the protest. The arrests follow similar actions last week, when Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Allen, and William Kelly were detained and later released for their alleged involvement in the demonstration.
“Fort was present at the demonstration solely in a journalistic capacity, documenting an event of significant public interest and concern,” her counsel said in a statement. “The free speech and free press guarantees of the First Amendment fully protect such newsgathering and reporting activities, and Fort’s arrest is a transparent and unconstitutional attempt by our federal government to intimidate journalists and chill their protected speech. She will be vigorously defending herself against these charges.”
Thousands of community members and journalists gathered outside the U.S. federal courthouse in Minneapolis in support of Fort and the other arrestees.
“A judge, knowing the law, says there is no call to arrest U.S. journalists, who are merely doing what the Constitution affords them the right to do, and yet they still issue arrest warrants because they’re embarrassed that Minnesota is showing them their ass,” said Minneapolis school teacher and activist Marcia Howard outside the courthouse.
“I was absolutely shocked and appalled; the infringement on the First Amendment was the first thing that went through my head. Then I thought of that poor woman… she’s got kids, and I cannot believe that they are violating her in the way that they are,” Howard later told Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder reporters.
The arrests sparked outrage across the Twin Cities’ journalism community. The Star Tribune, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, and Sahan Journal, along with other local outlets, released a joint statement condemning the arrests.
“We strongly condemn the arrest of journalists Georgia Fort and Don Lemon, as well as any attempt to intimidate members of the press. The First Amendment recognizes the press as holding a distinct and protected role in our democracy,” the statement reads. “In America, we do not arrest journalists for doing their jobs. The Minnesota journalism community stands united in defense of press freedom and the essential role reporting plays in holding power to account.”
By 3 p.m., Fort, Lundy, and Crews were ordered released. According to those present in the courtroom, prosecutors failed to convince the judge that Fort and the others intended to incite violence. A witness described the judge as appearing “irritated.”
Fort and the others reunited with loved ones in the courthouse lobby before being moved outside due to ICE and DHS officers entering the building.
“I know as an independent journalist, I have challenged us to move forward in this industry, but the fact that you guys stood up for me today shows me that we are moving together,” Fort said moments after her release. “As I reflect as someone who has worked in media for more than 17 years, I leave this federal courthouse today with one question: Do we have a Constitution?”
Izzy Canizares is a freelance journalist and contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder