Don Lemon is already out of custody, but the White House made some memes for their trouble. Right before the weekend, the former CNN journalist was held because he helped document an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church.
After news broke that Lemon had been detained, the White House set about making memes to celebrate their directives. The journalist was pictured in greyscale with the words, “When life gives you lemons…” followed by a chain emoji. The entire administration has never been subtle about their intentions for political enemies.
The Department of Justice has hit Lemon with multiple federal civil rights charges. A grand jury indicted Lemon and journalists like Georgia Fort on chargers around conspiracy and interfering with the right to worship in St. Paul Minnesota. Apparently, a ICE official is a pastor at the church and took umbrage with the protests. However, I suppose even paramilitary forces need a side gig in this economy. Still, according to PBS News, Marilyn Bednarski, the defense attorney in Lemon’s case, says that he’s going to fight the charges.
That makes a lot of sense as the circumstances from taking him into custody with all of the other Black journalists that were rounded up seem sketchy. Add that to the larger issues going on up in Minnesota and it’s not hard to see why the authorities decided to come down hard on the journalists in this moment.
Don Lemon gets meme-d after arrest
Internet spectacle is the number one priority of this administration. Larger than protecting President Donald Trump, bigger than any stated goals, and certainly high above the concern for rank-and-file American people. The memes are an outgrowth of this loud philosophy. This is governance for random posters by random posters. It’s been evident in the first year or so of the administration and seems likely to continue. Whatever goals that might have been in place for the United States are basically gone or on indefinite hold until we get a few upvotes from the strange denizens of various social media sites.
Lemon and the other journalists affected are going back to work reporting what’s going on up in Minnesota and beyond. Each person is relaying the stories of hardworking people just trying to make it through another week without getting caught in the gears of the dogwhistle content mill. It’s wild to even be at a place where official government accounts are pulling these stunts. But, we have to be honest with ourselves. None of this trolling will subside until people out there vote this out or something else happens.
Outside the courthouse, Lemon told media, “I will not be silenced.” He would continue, “I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now. In fact there is no more important time than right now. This very moment. For a free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable.” We will have updates for you as things continue!
(featured image: Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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