‘Do we have a constitution?’ Georgia Fort's Arrest Highlights Attack on Press Freedom
- Rebecca Gilbuena
- 22 hours ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
The arrest of independent journalist Georgia Fort on January 30 by federal agents in connection with an anti-ICE protest at a church in Saint Paul has raised a grave concern: Do we have a constitution? Georgia, founder of BLCK Press, posed that question after she was released from federal custody on Friday.
"As I reflect as a journalist who has worked in media for more than 17 years, | leave this federal courthouse today with one question: Do we have a Constitution?" she asked the nation. "I should be protected under the First Amendment just like all the journalists I've been advocating for for months. So do we have a constitution? That is the pressing question that should be on the front of everyone's minds."
Georgia was arrested from her home early Friday morning. She live streamed the disturbing moment on social media. She also shared a video of agents peering into her window.
Georgia was taken to the Whipple Federal Building before her hearing at the U.S. District Court building in Downtown Minneapolis. Federal prosecutors had argued she should be jailed, claiming the allegations tied to the Cities Church protest were violent. The judge rejected that claim and by 3 p.m., Georgia was ordered released as her case moves forward.
Strong Support For Georgia and First Amendment
Within hours of her arrest, community gathered to demand Georgia's release, citing her First Amendment rights. At a press conference inside Minneapolis City Hall, just across the street from the federal courthouse, a large group of supporters spoke to Georgia's professionalism and character.
Community member Rod Adams praised Georgia as someone who has consistently reported on Black communities when others would not. He also said the first sign of a crumbling democracy is attack on free speech.
You can lock up a truth-teller, but you can lock up the truth. Georgia is a hero. From community events to the midst of tear gas and flash bangs and rubber bullets flying around, Georgia was there. When no one else paid attention to Black Minnesota, Georgia paid attention. So we gonna stand up for Black press and we're gonna stand up for Black women."
Georgia's teenaged daughter, Arayah, emphasized that her mom is a journalist—not a protester or activist—who has spent 17 years documenting community stories to support her family.
"She is a mom working to provide for her children through the only way she knows how. Documenting and sharing stories of the community and truth of what's happening here every day in our state."
Historian Dr. Yohuru Williams underscored that the core functions of an independent press are not crimes.
"The pursuit of truth is not a crime, bearing witness is not incitement, asking questions is not obstruction. It is the work of an independent press. It is the foundation of Democracy. It is the bedrock of the principles that animate our democratic Republic, and when they crumble, we all are in jeopardy. We will not normalize injustice in this community because that would mean that we would be complicit in the erosion and destruction of our Democracy."
Media Organizations Condemn Arrests
During the same press conference, Sheree Curry, co-president of the National Association of Black Journalists, Minnesota Chapter said Georgia was doing her job.
"The First Amendment protects the press and enables journalists to be able to do their jobs—to collect, publish, and disseminate information that is important for all of our readers, our listeners, our viewers, to understand what's going on. It was very important that people like her— independent journalists, especially— be protected. They do not have the same type of backing as someone working for a media outlet."
In a joint statement from the Minnesota Star Tribune, Minnesota Public Radio, the Minnesota Reformer, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, Sahan Journal, Center for Broadcast Journalism and Minnesota Newspaper Association, they “strongly condemned” the arrests of both Georgia and Don Lemon, who was arrested in Los Angeles late Thursday night.
"The First Amendment recognizes the press as holding a distinct and protected role in our democracy. In America, we do not arrest journalists for doing their jobs. The Minnesota journalism community stands united in defense of press freedom and the essential role reporting plays in holding power to account."
Other Community Leaders Arrested for Church Protest
Two other prominent community members were arrested the same morning as Georgia: Black Lives Matter Minnesota co-founder Trahern Crews and Minnesota Senate Candidate Jamael Lundy.
The Minnesota House People of Color and Indigenous Caucus issued a statement that reads in part:
"We recognize these arrests as part of a larger, systemic anti-Black movement orchestrated by the Trump administration to silence marginalized voices and to brutalize Black and Brown bodies for speaking out against his authoritarian regime."
Minnesota State Senator Zaynab Mohamed called their arrests a disgraceful act by a disgraceful administration.
"Today's arrests show that this administration is afraid of honest, accurate reporting, and that they are strongest when the truth of their abuse is buried. That's why they continue an unprecedented attack on the foundational rights of Americans that protect our free society. We will fight with all we've got against this tyranny."
Trahern and Jamael were in court at the same time as Georgia and had the same outcome. The denied the government's request to keep them in jail and released them without bond as their cases move forward.