(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) By Tevon Blair ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

Black members of the press have educated the public about the injustices and oppression in America since the establishment of the first Black newspaper, Freedom’s Journal, in 1827. Now, two-centuries later, independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort face federal charges after their coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest, adding to the long history of Black journalists and the rights that exist under the First Amendment of the Constitution. 

“This isn’t just about me, this is about all journalists, especially in the United States,” said Lemon during a press conference outside of a Los Angeles courthouse. “For more than 30 years, I’ve been a journalist, and the power and protection of the First Amendment has been the underpinning of my work. The First Amendment, freedom of the press, is the bedrock of our democracy.”

Last week, Lemon pleaded not guilty to all charges related to his coverage of protests against the Trump Administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Minnesota. The former CNN news anchor, Fort and seven others are all listed in the federal indictment under two counts for allegedly conspiring against the rights of religious freedom at a place of worship and injuring, intimidating and interfering with the exercise of the right of religious freedom at a place of worship. Temple University student Jerome Richardson was also arrested for assisting Lemon and among the names listed in the indictment.

Several national journalists associations have voiced their outrage and concern of reporters’ First Amendment rights. In a statement, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) said, “A government that responds to scrutiny by targeting the messenger is not protecting the public, it is attempting to intimidate it, and considering recent incidents regarding federal agents, it is attempting to distract it.” This comes after the federal government’s recent 10-week-long occupation in Minnesota resulted in ICE agents shooting and killing two Minneapolis residents, Renee Good and Alexi Pretti, and thousands of arrests.

NABJ continued, “The selective targeting of journalists— especially, Black and LGBTQIA journalists— raises urgent concerns about unequal enforcement and retaliatory policing of the press.” 

For generations, Black journalists from outlets like the Freedom’s Journal, The North Star, The Crisis, Chicago Defender, Ebony, Jet, ESSENCE and many others have collectively added a new voice to documenting the struggles, achievements and experiences of Black people across the country. From the anti-slavery movement, Jim Crow, the Civil Right Movement and decades of resistance and empowerment, these outlets have provided a platform to fight oppression through truth and education in reporting. 

“The Black press has always been a vital source of information for Black readers whose stories were often ignored by mainstream media,” said Phil Lewis, president of the Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ). 

While today’s Black journalists are focused on a diverse range of issues and the current political decisions being made on all levels of government, the first few decades of Black journalists’ reporting focused on America’s long history of slavery, racism and segregation. Abolitionist Fredrick Douglass, founded the antislavery newspaper, The North Star in 1847. 

In the late 1890s, Ida B. Wells, a reporter and anti-lynching activists, became a pivotal voice in reporting on injustice, oppression and racism in the South. She is largely recognized for her investigative reporting on lynchings, using her research to argue the reasoning behind these inhumane acts. She published her research in The Memphis Free Press and Headlight and independently through her own publications, ‘Southern Horrors’ and ‘A Red Record.’

Black journalists in the 20th century used the foundation built in the 1800s to further expand their perspectives in reporting, gaining access to newsrooms and roles that historically excluded their voices. Both Alice Dunnigan and Ethel Payne became pioneers for Black journalists in white-only roles, with Dunnigan becoming the first African American woman to be a White House correspondent in 1947 and Payne holding the same distinct honor in her role as a major news network commentator after being hired by CBS in 1972.  

Although progress was made for the field, many Black journalists today are impacted by massive layoffs, budget cuts and media organizations dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives amid the Trump administration’s orders. 

“Traditional newsrooms have taken advantage of Black journalists for decades,” Lewis tells ESSENCE. “Black journalists have never had the luxury of simply being ‘journalists.’ We are often advocates for diversity in coverage, mentors for Black and other journalists of color, recruiters for our newsrooms and more. And after all of that, Black journalists are the first out of the door when layoffs take place.”

In the wake of these decisions, Black journalists have resulted in independent coverage and using social media as a tool to continue using their voices to report news. After years of Joy Reid, the former MSNBC host, calling out injustice in America and being a constant target of President Donald Trump, her show was canceled and she was removed from her position. Reid now reports independently, using social media as a platform to engage with audiences. 

Lewis says “social media has provided journalists like me the opportunity to continue that tradition of telling Black stories and informing our community without having to worry about non-Black editors who don’t understand.” Lewis is currently leading one of the largest chapters within NABJ. 

“Community and advocacy are at the heart of what we do in WABJ, and we want Black journalists in the DMV area to know we support them,” said Lewis. “But it’s going to take more than strongly worded letters to combat the multi-pronged attack on journalism and the First Amendment we’re facing at this moment. WABJ is always thinking of ways to keep its members protected and supported.” 

Earlier this month, Onyx Impact, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research, education, and digital innovation hub dedicated to empowering Black communities and exposing and countering the information threats that undermine Black progress, announced a $500,000 investment in Black media. 

“At this moment, Black media, Black history and Black data are under attack,” said Esosa Osa, founder and CEO of Onyx Impact. “The Invest in Black Media campaign is Onyx’s way of putting real money behind that truth. Throughout our history, Black media has held the line in the face of anti-democratic forces, while others fall in line and appease propaganda. There is no healthy democracy in this country without strong, independent Black media.” 

NABJ, the National Newspaper Publishers Association, National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and Archiving the Black Web are among the organizations benefiting from this investment. Each organization will receive between $75,000 to $100,000 to expand opportunities for independent Black journalists. $150,000 of the fund will be directed to Onyx’s Information Integrity Lab, established to invest in Black digital creators and their relationships with Black newspapers to help increase reach and deliver accurate, fact-checked information to the public. 

“The Black Press has always held the line on trust and standing firm in the face of threats to our democracy. For 200 years, we have been on the frontlines of American history, documenting Black stories,” said Dr. Benjamin Chavis, president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). “We are grateful to Onyx Impact for their continued partnership, helping NNPA members to modernize in the era of digital media and disinformation. This critical investment will help extend our work and will enable us to continue holding the line in the face of ongoing threats to truth and democracy.” 

Onyx Impact’s 2026 investment is a clear call to action for funders and institutions to commit long-term investments to support Black media. 

“America is worse off without Black journalists to tell the full story of this country,” said Lewis. “Without sustainable revenue, more Black papers — like the Skanner in Oregon or the Richmond Free Press — will be forced to close and more Black journalists will have to leave the profession.” 

The post Black Journalists, Don Lemon & Georgia Fort Face Federal Charges Amid Press Freedom Battle appeared first on Essence.

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