ICYMI: On The Don Lemon Show, Kelly Discusses the Trump Administration’s Attacks on Americans’ Constitutional Rights

"This is to send a message to every journalist out there that isn't one of their sycophants, that they should stop doing their jobs because they view you and me as the opposition."

"It's not going to stop unless we continue to speak out about it."

In case you missed it, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly spoke with journalist Don Lemon this week about the Trump Administration's attacks on Americans' constitutional rights, including how Lemon's arrest and the Pentagon's efforts to censure and demote Kelly are meant to intimidate journalists and chill free speech. Kelly emphasized that it's on all of us to stand up, step up, and keep fighting for our rights and our democracy.

Sen. Kelly speaks to Don Lemon on The Don Lemon Show.

Watch the full interview here. See key excerpts below:

On the Trump Administration's abuses of Americans' constitutional rights:

"They crossed the line with me with my First Amendment freedom of speech rights. I didn't think they would lock up a journalist doing his job, but they're willing to take some steps that are deep into the authoritarian playbook, and it's really disturbing and it's troubling and it's dangerous, and I really worry about the future of our democracy if this continues. Freedom of the press, religion, freedom of speech… they're ticking through them here with regards to the First Amendment, but the others: going into people's homes without warrants, taking away due process from people. Now we have these roaming bands of ICE agents just violating people's rights across the country."

On how Don Lemon's arrest is one example of the Trump Administration trying to chill free speech:

"You're just an example that they want to send to all journalists. They want to get that reporter out there, whether it's some young, brand new person at a journalism school, or some person that's been doing this for 30 years, 40 years, to make a decision not to write the story, not to ask the question, not to go to the place where they can get the information so they can share it with the American people so we can continue to have a democracy beyond this 250 years. They're trying to chill free speech."

On the Trump Administrations' attempts to stop people from holding them accountable:

"You were not violating the law. You were doing your job. This is to send a message to every journalist out there that isn't one of their sycophants, that they should stop doing their jobs because they view you and me as the opposition. And if you're not with this President, he looks at you as the enemy, and he is taking steps to try to chill and stop us from doing what we are hired to do."

On how these abuses won't stop unless we all step up and keep speaking out:

"Don, it's got to stop. But it's not going to stop unless we continue to speak out about it. And I really hope that despite the chilling effect that it has on journalists, what happened to you, I also know that there are others out there that it will get them to double down and continue to do their jobs. It'll chill some, but there'll be some people that will step up. They'll step up at this moment, because our democracy is really on the line here."