A former Columbus, GA news reporter was arrested after filming a Minnesota church protest. Georgia Fort currently works as an independent journalist in Minneapolis and has been covering the aftermath of two deadly shootings involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She is one of four journalists, including former CNN reporter Don Lemon who were arrested by federal agents in connection to the church protest.
Fort posted a live stream on Facebook just minutes before being taken into custody. “They have a warrant for my arrest. My children are here. They are impacted by this. 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, freedom to film-to be a member of the press. I don’t feel like I have my First Amendment right as a member of the press,” she said in part during the video.
NBC News reports the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that Lemon was charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers. It is unclear if Georgia Fort is facing those same charges. Fort previously worked for the ABC affiliate WTVM in Columbus.
