Gov. Pritzker calls for boycott of TV stations after Kimmel suspension

CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is urging a boycott and protest of TV stations tied to ABC over the network’s decision to indefinitely suspend late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel.

In an interview with MSNBC’s Jen Psaki, Prtizker said the decision to suspend Kimmel for remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death was “an attack on free speech.”

“I do not understand why people are not standing up and pushing back when they ought to, because what’s at stake here is free speech, it’s our Constitution and our way of life. Do we really want the president of the United States intimidating people, organizations to get others fired?” Pritzker asked.

ABC made a decision to suspend “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Wednesday after criticism from FCC chair Brendan Carr and TV station groups Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcasting.

“An attack on the First Amendment of this magnitude is a five alarm fire and we should all be treating it as such. What’s clear here is that Nexstar and Sinclair are capitulating to the president so he approves their mergers. Everything should be on the table,” Pritzker said.

“And so we only have one other thing to do, which is public action, people actually speaking up, speaking out, boycotting, showing up and protesting, and their representatives who agree with them doing the very same,” Pritzker added.

The governor said local journalists who work with ABC affiliates should not be punished or denied access.

A spokesperson for the governor told Patch, “The governor is calling for people to write letters, write emails, post online, speak up, and protest. Not for the punishment of local journalists for corporate machinations.”

The decision came after Kimmel suggested that Tyler Robinson, the suspect in Kirk’s assassination, may have held pro-Trump beliefs.

“We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang 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 on Monday.

Carr called Kimmel’s comments “truly sick” and said the FCC had a strong case for holding Kimmel, ABC, and parent company Walt Disney Co. accountable for spreading misinformation.

Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray declined to say Tuesday whether Robinson targeted Kirk for his anti-transgender views. Kirk was shot while taking a question that touched on mass shootings and transgender people.

Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) responded to Pritzker, writing, “Oh my god JB. Give it up. You’re the worst governor in Illinois history. You unleashed 64 murderers early and now you have the nerve to lecture us about free speech. Your Springfield Democrats stifle Republicans all the time. Your record is blood on the streets not leadership.”