Bass Says Feds Targeted ‘African American’ Journalists

By Rob Redding

Editor & Publisher

NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2026, 10 p.m. — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tonight intensified her criticism of the federal government during an appearance on CNN’s Abby Phillip show, arguing that the arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort happened because they are “African American” journalists.

Bass, a Democrat, said the situation should alarm every “African American” reporter in the country and warned that the federal charges represent a dangerous shift in how the government treats the press.

Her comments came as Lemon remains in federal custody in Los Angeles and Fort faces charges in Minnesota after both were arrested while covering a protest that moved into a Minneapolis church. Bass framed the arrests as politically charged and part of a broader pattern of federal escalation under President Trump.

Bass also issued a blistering written statement condemning the arrests as an assault on the First Amendment. She said Lemon was taken into custody while doing his job and described Fort as a respected journalist who was also arrested for reporting on the same protest. Bass said she has contacted the U.S. Attorney to check on Lemon’s status.

Below is the full statement from Mayor Bass, presented exactly as released.

“Don Lemon, an internationally known and renowned journalist and friend, was arrested last night by federal agents and is now in custody in Los Angeles – simply for doing his job and following a protest into a church in Minneapolis while reporting the story.

“Emmy-winning news producer and Minnesota-based journalist Georgia Fort – another widely respected Black journalist – was also arrested by federal agents in Minnesota for reporting on the same protest.

“The arrest of journalists for going into a church in the course of reporting is shocking enough, but what’s even more alarming is that it's no secret that Don Lemon is a Trump critic.

“Let me be very clear – President Trump is not deescalating anything after the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal agents. In fact, the arrest of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort demonstrates quite the opposite – he is escalating.

“First, Trump’s agents shoot and kill people exercising their First Amendment rights, and now we’re arresting journalists going into a church. It’s an egregious assault on constitutionally protected First Amendment rights.

“I have reached out to the U.S. Attorney to check on Don Lemon’s status.”

Rob Redding is the author of No. 1 best selling book Black Power in the Age of Artificial Supremacy Featuring Redding-Shim Kwet Yung . He is the bestselling author of 18 books. He is the host of Redding News Review Unrestricted and creator of ReddingNewsReview.com. He is also an emerging visual artist who lives and teaches at two colleges in New York City.