Protests

Don Lemon is speaking out for the first time about his arrest by the feds ... telling Jimmy Kimmel he was bombarded by agents in an elevator in L.A. and was never given the chance to turn himself in ... all so they could allegedly "embarrass" him.

The veteran journalist recounted his Thursday night arrest on federal civil rights charges on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Monday, explaining he was stepping into a hotel elevator after reporting on the Grammys when all of a sudden, he felt himself "being jostled."

Don says the folks trying to arrest him didn't identify themselves at first and failed to show a warrant until he demanded one. He also claims he was never given an opportunity to turn himself in despite his legal team's efforts -- it's all in the clip.

Reverend Jordan Wells has been an NFL fan his whole life ... but he told us he's boycotting the Super Bowl this year -- and not because his beloved Kansas City Chiefs didn't make it ... it's because Bad Bunny's headlining the halftime show.

Wells stopped by "TMZ Live" to explain his boycott of Super Bowl LX has nothing to do with Bad Bunny singing in Spanish ... it has everything to do with the Puerto Rican superstar supposedly making himself an activist, who Wells says, is demonizing one half of the country.

Wells says ... "I expect this Super Bowl to be the most political Super Bowl we have ever seen, because of who they picked and because of how the NFL has handled that."

Don Lemon was welcomed with a rousing standing ovation at Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy Awards party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Saturday ... after his hugely controversial arrest.

As you know ... Lemon was arrested Thursday night in Los Angeles for allegedly co-conspiring with protesters to disrupt a church service in Minneapolis. Of course, Lemon contends that -- as a journalist -- he was just reporting on the events taking place.

The Trump administration seems to have turned Don into a folk hero of sorts, representing the fight against what many view as an assault on the institutions of America's democracy.

Don Lemon has been released from custody after being criminally charged for covering a church protest in Minneapolis, and he made it clear ... this will not silence him.

Lemon told the crowd ... he has been a reporter for 30 years, and he will not stop doing what he has always done -- covering the news.

As we reported, Lemon was arrested Thursday night at his home in Los Angeles, for allegedly co-conspiring with protesters to disrupt a church service in Minneapolis.

Ellen DeGeneres’ gander across the pond looks like it hit pause -- 'cause she popped up back in Montecito mansion-hunting ... the same day of calling for a nationwide shutdown.

The ex-talk show host preached in an IG post, "no work, no school, no shopping" in protest over ICE brutality in Minnesota -- something tons of other Americans have been preaching today -- but that vibe didn’t exactly stick while out in luxe-land touring not one, but two mega-mansions Friday. Talk about do as I say, not as I stroll!

Take a look at these pics -- these weren’t casual Zillow scrolls -- we’re talking $35M and $17M spreads, beach strolls, full walkthrough mode with wife Portia de Rossi by her side.

Patrick Bet-David hopped into the "TMZ Live" hot seat over Don Lemon’s arrest Friday -- and it got fiery real quick, with PBD insisting Don blurred lines by mixing with protesters instead of just covering them.

The conservative podcast host and media personality doubled down hard ... even when Harvey Levin and Charles Latibeaudiere pushed back, saying Don got way too close to the protesters and perhaps even joined in their planning.

Patrick warned that Don's actions were a slippery slope -- pointing to footage that he says raises big questions about whether Lemon was observing or participating.

8:17 AM PT -- Don Lemon is being charged with conspiracy to deprive rights, and violation of the FACE Act -- interfering by force of someone’s First Amendment rights -- according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson.

Don Lemon was arrested Thursday night by federal agents in Los Angeles in connection with his coverage of an ICE protest that disrupted a Minnesota church service.

Lemon was charged with violating a federal law by impeding people's right to worship during an anti-ICE protest at Cities Church in Minneapolis on January 18, according to The New York Times.

In a statement Friday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says ... "At my direction, early this morning federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota."

Holy open mic, Batman ... the Dark Knight rose up in Santa Clara earlier this week to slam the city council's cooperation with ICE!

A man dressed as the Caped Crusader -- identified as "Batman" on the monitor Tuesday -- swooped down on the podium like Gotham's defender himself ... instantly launching into a tirade which began with an expletive.

In the 3-minute speech, Batman accuses the city council of allowing the federal government to walk all over them ... and, he expresses his concern about hundreds of masked men coming to Santa Clara. As you know, the federal government announced in October ICE agents will be present at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, the day of the Super Bowl ... but sources told TMZ Sports today there is no plan for ICE to conduct immigration enforcement at the site, so details remain sketchy.

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) represents a district of the city of Minneapolis, and she's known for her progressive views and outspoken tendencies, which have earned her the support -- and ire -- of many ... including the president of the United States.

Here's a look at the politician's background and see how she dealt with a surprising attack during a town hall meeting this week ... on her home turf.

Bruce Springsteen went for the jugular on his new track "Streets of Minneapolis" ... trashing the Trump Administration's attitude and actions against the city and its ongoing unrest.

Springsteen dropped the track accompanied by a statement n his website, explaining he wrote the song on Saturday, recorded it Tuesday, and released it today ... he dedicated it to the citizens of Minneapolis, immigrant neighbors, and the memories of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were both shot and killed by federal agents in the city this month.

Springsteen makes several references to "King Trump" and brands federal officers "thugs."

He also calls out "dirty lies" pushed by Trump adviser Stephen Miller and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who both defended the actions of the federal officers who killed Pretti and falsely labeled him a terrorist.

Noem claimed Pretti brandished a gun at the agents who shot him ... though video later showed he never touched his firearm, which he was legally permitted to carry. Miller also alleged without evidence Pretti "tried to murder federal agents."

Springsteen's song finishes with a pledge to "remember the names of those who died on the streets of Minneapolis."

Springsteen isn't the only one who's spoken out about the unrest in the Twin Cities recently ... celebrities like Billie Eilish and Jimmy Kimmel have been loud about federal immigration activity in Minnesota.

Actor and comedian John Leguizamo is drawing a line in the ICE ... telling fans if they support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement -- then don't bother supporting his work.

He laid it out crystal clear in his Instagram Story on Wednesday ... demanding folks who are happy with the way ICE is carrying out their work to stop buying tickets to his shows and watching his films, and says they should unfollow his social media as well.

John's command comes as tensions continue to boil following the shooting death of Alex Pretti Saturday in Minneapolis. While the Department of Homeland Security initially said Pretti approached agents with his weapon drawn ... video shows he never brandished his concealed firearm.

Ice-T might share a common name with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but that's where the similarities end ... he told us citizens should be careful, even when protesting peacefully ... because ICE agents might attack.

We got the rapper and actor out in NYC Tuesday, where he had a message to his fans in Minnesota who are demonstrating their dissent against violent immigration raids ... "Stand strong and stay out the way. These cats will kill you."

The Grammy winner has actually been outspoken against ICE for a while now. Clips from an old live show have been making the rounds lately, showing Ice-T changing the lyrics of his classic "Cop Killer," singing "ICE Killer" instead.

Since then, things have sadly gotten much worse.

Two different agents shot at Alex Pretti in the incident Saturday that left him dead ... this according to a Department of Homeland Security report to Congress.

Customs and Border Protection relayed the results of its initial investigation into the shooting of Pretti ... admitting to Congress a Border Patrol agent and a Customs and Border Protection officer both fired their guns.

According to CNN, the report reads ... "CBP personnel attempted to take Pretti into custody. Pretti resisted CBP personnel’s efforts and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, a (Border Patrol agent) yelled, ‘He’s got a gun!’ multiple times. Approximately five seconds later, a (Border Patrol agent) discharged his CBP-issued Glock 19 and a (Customs and Border Protection officer) also discharged his CBP-issued Glock 47 at Pretti.”

Anti-ICE protesters in Minnesota became unwilling astronomers Monday night ... taking in the full moon when a man dropped his pants and slapped his butt cheeks up against a hotel window.

The impromptu peep show took place at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Maple Grove, Minnesota, where demonstrators -- who believed outgoing United States Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino and other federal agents were inside -- protested from the curb outside.

Their message wasn't well-received by one guy in the hotel standing near a window with a group of his pals ... who decided to lodge a counter-protest of his own -- by mooning the crowd.

Border Czar Tom Homan's going to get hands-on with the tense situation in Minnesota ... because he's being sent there by President Donald Trump.

POTUS announced his plans for Homan on Truth Social Monday morning, saying Homan "knows and likes many of the people" in Minnesota ... without specifying whom he was referring to.

Trump described Homan as "tough but fair" and said he would directly report to him during his time in Minnesota. Trump did not indicate what Homan will do in his capacity there.

A third person has been taken into custody following a controversial anti-ICE protest in Minnesota this week ... after he dared U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to arrest him.

Bondi announce William Kelly's arrest on social media Thursday, writing ... "Our nation was settled and founded by people fleeing religious persecution. Religious freedom is the bedrock of this country."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem later announced -- on social media -- Kelly has been charged with conspiracy to deprive rights.

Earlier this week Kelly -- a U.S. Army veteran who's been active in challenging ICE, CBP and the Trump Administration -- called Bondi a "traitorous b****" and dared her to "come and get" him on his TikTok account, @dawokefarmer2.

In the video he claimed children are being "dragged into concentration camps."

ICYMI ... protestors entered Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, this past Sunday to confront pastor David Easterwood, who is an ICE official. Easterwood wasn't at the church at the time.