Civil case dismissed for most associated with the Cities Church protest

Don Lemon still named as a defendant 

A civil case stemming from a January protest at Cities Church in St. Paul has seen most of the named defendants dismissed. 

In the case, Doucette v. Levy Armstrong et al, United States Magistrate Judge 

Elizabeth Cowan Wright today dismissed all named defendants with the exception of one, journalist Don Lemon. The dismissal came at the request of the plaintiff, Ann Doucette. While Lemon remains as a defendant, independent journalist Georgia Fort and Jerome Richardson, who assisted Lemon with logistics, were dismissed. 

In addition to being an independent journalist, Fort is the president of the Center for Broadcast Journalism, the parent organization of Power 104.7. 

Protesters Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Allen, Jamael Lundy and Trahern Crews were also dismissed from the case. 

Doucette, a parishioner at Cities Church, filed the suit claiming protesters and journalists covering the Jan. 18 protest interfered with her ability to worship and caused emotional distress and trauma. The protest was due to one of the church's pastors, David Easterwood, being the St. Paul field director for ICE. The action came during the height of the federal occupation of Minnesota, Operation Metro Surge, and took place 11 days after the ICE killing of Minneapolis resident Renee Good. 

Attorneys for Fort said her dismissal in the civil case is just the first step to upholding the First Amendment. 

“We’re pleased that Ms. Fort was dismissed from the case and that she no longer has to deal with it as a distraction. We hope for the same result in her criminal case,” said Isabella Salomão Nascimento, an attorney with Ballard Spahr, the firm representing Fort.

“No matter whether a civil lawsuit or a criminal prosecution, no journalist should be punished for simply doing their job as a member of the press.” 

This is a developing story.