Journalism has been a major topic of conversation over the past week, but the major talking point right now focuses on the federal arrests of Georgia Fort and Don Lemon for covering an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota that saw protesters take over a local church in the middle of its service. The two journalists were accused of violating the churchgoers’ constitutionally protected religious worship rights.
Things changed dramatically when news broke and video footage of Georgia Fort, a journalist and founder of BLCK Press, as well as the VP of NABJ Minnesota, went live on Facebook documenting her arrest. “It’s hard to understand how we have a Constitution, Constitutional rights, when we can just be arrested for being a member of the press,” she said in the video.
The arrests sparked massive awareness worldwide, with those calling for the freedom of these journalists and opening the floor for a much larger discussion of the censorship happening within the country.
“Fort was present at the demonstration solely in a journalistic capacity, documenting an event of significant public interest and concern,” said a statement issued on behalf of Georgia Fort by her counsel. “The free speech and free press guarantees of the First Amendment fully protect such newsgathering and reporting activities, and Fort’s arrest is a transparent and unconstitutional attempt by our federal government to intimidate journalists and chill their protected speech. She will be vigorously defending herself against these charges.”
After the release of Fort, thousands around the world rallied together in support not just for her, but for the right to practice the First Amendment. Federal authorities have not publicly released full details of the charges, and no trial date has been announced. “I am trying to recover and trying to help my children recover,” she told EBONY when asked how she is doing. “This has definitely impacted our daily routines.”
As she continues to bring awareness to the attack on democracy and journalism, she spoke with EBONY about the day of her arrest, the ongoing battle journalists face and how organizations can continue to be supportive.
EBONY: You probably can’t say too much about the arrest, but can you walk me through the day of it? What went through your mind, and did you know instantly that you should record yourself for Facebook Live?
Georgia Fort: It was extremely terrifying to have federal agents knocking at my door, especially knowing that my kids were home sleeping. I was hoping they would be able to sleep through it, but two of my daughters woke up. I decided to go live because I witnessed a lot of misinformation coming out of Minnesota in the weeks leading up to this happening, and so I wanted the public to know the facts about my arrest and about me being a member of the press.
When you were taken into custody, what was going through your mind? You’ve been extremely vocal about the attack on democracy and journalism, so what was it like seeing that same attack in real time for you and the other journalists like Don Lemon?
When I realized how many agents were outside of my home, I sincerely wondered, all this for one woman? I also observed several men who had vests that said DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). I couldn’t help but wonder why Drug Enforcement would be involved when I am not accused of anything drug-related. This was a very disheartening layer to the impact of the terrifying experience. I thought the inclusion of the DEA perhaps was an attempt to embarrass us amongst our neighbors and community.
I was also wondering if the agents who were arresting me knew that I was a member of the press, and so I looked them in the eyes and I asked them. Some of them said they did know, others ignored me. I have been outspoken about the recurring attacks against journalists in Minnesota and nationally. My reporting on the deportation of Mario Guevara went viral and helped build national awareness about his case. It’s frustrating that we as a society have developed a tolerance for constitutional violations. I can’t help but wonder: if there had been severe consequences for all the other violations of press freedom I reported on, would this type of escalation against the press have occurred?
When you were released, what did it mean to see the outpour of support around the world?
It reminded me that the truth will always prevail. Journalism is not a crime, and Americans are standing up for myself and others who have been impacted by all this.
The state of journalism is having a massive shift right now. What do you think this situation regarding your arrest says about what type of support independent journalists need right now?
Trust for mainstream media was already fragile. Now with various sales, mergers, layoffs, and questionable editorial decisions, I think the trust is at an all-time low. It creates a unique opportunity for independent journalists; however, if we are going to meet the moment, we need bold investments to build the infrastructure required to offer a competitive alternative.
As the Vice President of the Minnesota NABJ chapter, the national chapter of NABJ rallied the organization behind you. How do you think journalism organizations can, moving forward, better prioritize and support the well-being of Black journalists in this time?
I am so grateful for the support of NABJ, and I am proud to serve as the VP of the Minnesota chapter, where I have made financial investment in providing scholarships for young journalists. NABJ is made up of mainstream and independent journalists who represent a variety of backgrounds, and I appreciate the rich perspectives that I gain exposure to through the coalition.
At the publishing of this article federal authorities have not publicly released full details of the charges, and no trial date has been announced.