Don Lemon on Jimmy KimmelJimmy Kimmel’s interview with Don Lemon was effectively a signal boost to every person who was outraged when Kimmel was taken off air and his first amendment rights were threatened. It was also heartbreaking to watch. It was heartbreaking to see Don Lemon express that he doesn’t know if he is okay, and the mental and emotional toll of being targeted by the Trump administration. Watching Lemon’s body language as he detailed the traumatizing experience of being arrested by “maybe a dozen” FBI agents, who didn’t immediately identify themselves or provide a warrant was harrowing. And as someone who loathes apple watches, I am glad that Lemon was wearing one because that was the only way he could contact his husband and his attorney because he was not granted a call while in federal custody. With this interview, Jimmy Kimmel effectively told his fans, “Hey, here is what happened to a Black journalist, and you need to be just as mad about what’s happening to Don Lemon as you were about what happened to me because it is worse!” What’s most unfortunate is that none of this is new. Targeting journalists, especially Black journalists, is a longstanding tradition in the United States. During World War II, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover targeted Black journalists and newspapers that wrote about a “Double Victory” (abroad against the axis forces and at home against Jim Crow), and accused them of violating the Espionage Act and conspiring with communists against the war effort. In the 1970s, President Richard Nixon had a full “Enemies List,” and deployed the FBI against journalists. Listen to the latest episode of Archival for all of the details. Still, my hope is that Kimmel's viewers listen, learn, and repeat their outrage and protests with the same verve for Don Lemon because I am confident that these attacks against the press will not stop. In fact, they will likely escalate as we approach the midterm elections.
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