Protesters Rally at Hollywood Theater Over Jimmy Kimmel's Suspension
Demonstrators gathered outside the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood to protest ABC's suspension of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' following the host's remarks on Charlie Kirk's death.
On Thursday, a group of protesters assembled outside the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood to express opposition to ABC's indefinite suspension of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' The network's decision followed host Jimmy Kimmel's comments regarding the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
The demonstration, which began at 4:30 p.m., coincided with the usual taping time of the late-night show. Participants included fans, anti-Trump activists, and members of the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW). Musician and social justice activist Sellassie Blackwell led the crowd in chants and played music, including Queen's 'I Want to Break Free.'
Protesters held signs with messages such as 'Cancel Disney+,' 'Here Comes Hitler: A New Comedy From ABC,' and 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Russia, Dump Disney and Hulu.' The gathering remained peaceful, with police officers arriving about 30 minutes into the protest to ensure attendees stayed on the sidewalk.
Philip Walker, a WGAW member, commented on Kimmel's monologue, stating that the host did not say anything negative about Kirk but highlighted that 'Donald Trump didn't seem to care about the person he claimed to care about so much.'
Sunsara Taylor of RefuseFascism.org addressed the crowd, asserting that 'Donald Trump said today that if you criticize him, you could lose your broadcast license!' She added, 'Fascism is upon us now!'
In related developments, Stephen Colbert expressed support for Kimmel during his monologue on CBS' 'The Late Show,' emphasizing the importance of freedom of speech.