Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, said on Monday that he was canceling a town hall on WABC that had been planned for this week, in protest of the decision by the station’s parent company to indefinitely suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show.
The suspension came last week following criticism from the head of the Federal Communications Commission after Mr. Kimmel, a late-night comedian, spoke about the killing of Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and ally of President Trump.
Mr. Mamdani made the announcement during remarks at Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park on Roosevelt Island, which honors Mr. Roosevelt’s famous speech on human rights, including freedom of speech. He called ABC’s decision to suspend Mr. Kimmel in the face of pressure from the Trump administration an attack on freedom of speech and freedom of expression.
“The message that it sends to each and every American across this country is a message that the First Amendment is no longer a right that can be counted on, but rather that it is government which will determine what should and should not be discussed, what can and cannot be spoken,” Mr. Mamdani said.
Mr. Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10 while speaking to students at Utah Valley University. Police have charged Tyler Robinson, 22, with aggravated murder, citing text messages he sent to his romantic partner about Mr. Kirk, in which Mr. Robinson said that he had “had enough of his hatred.”
Mr. Kirk’s comments about immigrants, Jews, the L.G.B.T.Q. community and Black people were characterized by many as hate speech.
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