Demonstrators protested outside ABC headquarters in SoHo on Thursday after the network suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show following controversial comments in a monologue.

“The MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said.

What You Need To Know

  • The Federal Communications Commission, also known as the FCC,pushed for action following the remarks and ABC pulled the show off the air

  • Many protesters said the move crosses a line silencing dissent

  • Critics, including President Donald Trump, said the suspension was long overdue

The Federal Communications Commission, also known as the FCC, pushed for action following the remarks, and ABC pulled the show off the air.

Many protesters say the move crosses a line, silencing dissent.

“When you have a government working this fast to shut down any opposition, we need to be acting just as fast to call it out,” state Assemblymember Alex Bores said.

Bores, who said his parents built their careers at ABC, calls it a national threat.

Others went further, accusing the network of censorship and fascism.

“The censorship and the fascism at play [are] outrageous. He didn’t say anything really bad about Kirk, and they just shut him down,” West Village resident Kathy Mintz said.

Critics, including President Donald Trump, said the suspension was long overdue.

“They should have fired him a long time ago, so, you know, you can call that free speech or not. He was fired for lack of talent,” Trump said.

For many protesters, this isn’t just about Kimmel — it’s a fight over what can be said in America now.

“It’s a national threat to free speech. I think we should all be up in arms,” Bores said.

ABC hasn’t said whether or when Kimmel will return.

Until then, protesters are calling for a boycott of ABC’s parent company, Disney.

The Writer’s Guild of America is planning another protest Friday afternoon.