John,

Federal agents arrested journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort this week. Their crime? Covering protests against ICE violence.

Attorney General Pam Bondi personally ordered the arrests after a magistrate judge rejected the charges. Both journalists are Black. Both are independent, working without the protection of corporate newsrooms. Both were doing their jobs.

Meanwhile, the federal agents who killed protesters Renee Good and Alex in Minnesota face no charges.

This is a tactic. Black journalists have always been targeted when their reporting exposes state violence—from Ida B. Wells to today. The Trump administration is criminalizing journalism and doing it with a clear pattern: silence Black reporters who document power, protect agents who abuse it.

Don Lemon and Georgia Fort should be free.

Reporting on protests and government action is not a crime. It's a constitutional right. Every day they remain under threat of prosecution is another day the First Amendment is under attack.

SIGN THE PETITION, DEMAND THEIR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

We're calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to release both journalists and dismiss all charges. We're demanding disclosure of who authorized these arrests. And we're pushing for an independent review of whether federal law enforcement violated constitutional protections.

A democracy cannot function when journalists are arrested for doing their jobs.

Until Justice Is Real,

Nadine Smith
President
Color Of Change

Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.

If you’re absolutely sure you don’t want to hear from Color Of Change again, click here to unsubscribe.