In the clip, Lemon, a failed former CNN host who was fired by the network, crowds the pastor, sticks what looks like a recording device in his face and engages in an exchange clearly meant to be confrontational.

Throughout the clip, Lemon interrupts, debates and tries to intimidate (one could even say vaguely threaten) the pastor.

Lemon was indicted by a grand jury and arrested “on charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers,” according to an Associated Press report.

Lemon says that he was just reporting on rather than participating in the protest, but his intentions are made clear by both his interaction with the pastor as well as what he said on camera outside of the church both before and after the storming of it.

The ‘interview’

Ryan Comer, Standard-Examiner

“I mean, this is unacceptable,” the pastor says to Lemon at the beginning of the clip. “It’s shameful. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship.”

Lemon immediately tries to defend the mob, but the pastor continues, saying, “That’s why I have to take care of my flock…”

Lemon cuts the pastor off, saying, “OK, but listen. We live in a – there’s a Constitution and a First Amendment to freedom of speech and the freedom to assemble and protest.”

Perhaps you noticed, but this is not a question. It is a statement. Lemon might as well be the mouthpiece of this anti-ICE mob.

“We’re here to worship,” the pastor said. “We’re here to worship Jesus because that’s the hope of these cities. That’s the hope of the world is Jesus Christ.”

Then came the intimidation.

“I want to be very respectful. Please don’t push me, though.” Lemon said sternly.

There was no visible sign that the pastor was pushing Lemon, but to whatever extent he may have been trying to keep Lemon at a distance, Lemon was crowding him. Lemon had entered the pastor’s personal space in an aggressive posture.

Lemon had already disrespected this church by brazenly entering it under the guise of “journalism,” and now he was bullying this pastor by crowding, interrupting and challenging him. And he had the audacity to speak as if the pastor had done something wrong simply for potentially wanting to maintain some level of personal dignity in the situation?

After Lemon made the comment, he actually moved even closer to the pastor, Lemon was literally right in the man’s face.

It’s ironic that Lemon said “I want to be very respectful” because there is nothing about this moment, this exchange or this entire situation that is “respectful.” It is not meant to be respectful. Lemon is clearly trying to intimidate this man or provoke a confrontation, but thankfully, the pastor didn’t take the bait.

“We’re here. We’re here to worship Jesus,” the pastor patiently continued. “That’s why we’re here. OK? That’s why we’re here. That’s what we’re about.”

Then came another challenge.

“Don’t you think Jesus would be understanding and love these folks?” Lemon asked.

This isn’t an interview. This is an opportunity to spew activist rhetoric.

His question implies that this pastor is not like Jesus, that he’s not understanding, that he doesn’t love those people.

“We’re spreading the love of Jesus,” the pastor said.

Then came yet another challenge.

“But did you try to talk to them as a Christian?” asked Lemon, sounding more indignant.

This whole dialogue is basically Lemon speaking for the mob, using its actions as cover for harassing this pastor and parroting the mobs talking points to him.

Vile.

The pastor finally put an end to the disgusting charade, saying, “I have to take care of my church and my family, so I ask that you actually would also leave this building. Unless you’re here to worship.”

Ultimately, Lemon appears to back off as the clip ends.

Other videos

There’s another video of Lemon walking outside the church pointing to a child and saying, “I imagine it’s uncomfortable and traumatic for the people here, but again … that’s what protesting is about.”

Doesn’t really sound like a journalist to me. Doesn’t really sound like someone who was only there to report, does it? Sounds exactly like he sounded in his interview with the pastor, as someone whose mission was to harass people and then play defense for the mob.

In a video prior to the storming of the church, Lemon said there were “resistance protesters who were planning an operation” and that he was going to follow them. Lemon said he couldn’t tell the viewers exactly what they were going to do but that it was called “Operation Pull-Up.”

Shockingly, Lemon seemed to blow his own cover seconds later.

“And so that’s what we’re doing here, and then after we do this operation – you’ll see it live, and these operations are surprise operations,” he said. “Again, I can’t tell you where they’re going.”

That’s what we’re doing here? After we do this operation?

Sounds like someone who’s part of the operation to me.

I’m not going to argue the legality of what Lemon did. He’ll have his day in court and we’ll see how it goes. But here’s what I do know. This behavior should not be tolerated. It should be unequivocally rebuked. There should not be a shred of support, especially by anyone who claims to be a person of faith.

If this is deemed acceptable, then any activist can barrel into a place of worship, interrupt the service and harass the leaders and the congregants with cameras and recording devices, all under the guise of “journalism.”

Pay close attention to who is defending Lemon. Pay close attention to those who think what he did really was just honest journalism. These are not people who would defend the free exercise of religion. These are people who would allow the free exercise of religion to be trampled on. These are people who would tolerate you being discriminated against because of your religion.

They are not people who should be allowed the tiniest fraction of power or influence.

We’ve had too many wake-up calls over the years that protecting the free exercise of religion is completely unimportant to far too many.

This is yet another data point.

It’s a massive one.

Contact Standard-Examiner editor Ryan Comer at rcomer@standard.net.