Minneapolis freelance journalist Georgia Fort was arrested early Friday, Jan. 30, after documenting an anti-ICE demonstration during a St. Paul church service this month.
Fort was one of four people arrested in connection to the protest. Federal law enforcement also arrested former CNN anchor Don Lemon, along with politician and Black Lives Matter-Minnesota co-founder Trahern Crews and DFL activist and former state House staffer Jamael Lundy, who works for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. Lundy’s wife is St. Paul City Council Member Anika Bowie
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on X that she directed the arrests for “the coordinated attack” on the church.
Fort is a three-time Midwest Emmy award-winning journalist who was one of two journalists in the courtroom for the sentencing of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murdering George Floyd. She has more than 140,000 followers on Facebook and 80,000 followers on Instagram.
Fort posted a video on Facebook early Friday saying agents at her door announced they were there to arrest her after a grand jury approved charges.
“This is all stemming from the fact that I filmed a protest as a member of the media. We are supposed to have our constitutional right of the freedom to film, to be a member of the press,” Fort said in the video. “I don’t feel like I have my First Amendment right as a member of the press.”
She is the founder of BLCK Press, which publishes news for Minnesota’s Black community. Her work has appeared in outlets including KMOJ, CW Twin Cities and WEQY.
Fort also serves as president of the Center for Broadcast Journalism, a St. Paul-based mentorship pipeline for journalists of color.
