In his first interview since his arrest, Don detailed what happened after he was detained while covering an anti-ICE protest inside a church. He broke down the crucial distinction between protesters entering places of worship and journalists documenting the unfolding of events, emphasizing that he was there strictly in a journalistic capacity and not as an activist.
Don reflects on his offer to surrender peacefully but received no response, outlines the timeline leading up to his arrest, and talks about fellow journalist Georgia Fort, who was also arrested while covering the same protest. He spoke about the far-reaching impact of the Trump administration’s policies allowing ICE agents into schools, medical facilities and houses of worship, and reflected on the overwhelming support he received from fellow journalists.
Don says he’s “okay,” but he’s candid about the reality. These are federal charges stemming from the performance of his duties. He explained that he did not take part in the protests, but as a journalist he followed the group into the church to interview those involved in order to document the incident. Nevertheless, both the activist and the don were arrested.
The incident occurred on Thursday, when Don was in Los Angeles to cover the Grammy Awards. FBI agents then went to his hotel and arrested him by presenting a warrant on his cell phone, a moment he described as a deliberate attempt to intimidate and humiliate him. He said he was detained for several days with no phone calls and has since hired a lawyer, underscoring why protecting and supporting independent journalism is more important than ever.
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Source: Talking With Tami – www.talkingwithtami.com
