10,000 signatures reached
To: Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr
Stop the retaliation and censorship NOW!
%20(44).png)
Less than 24 hours after Trump renewed his calls for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired and criticized ABC, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it will be doing early license review for Disney-owned ABC stations, despite them not being up for review for another several years.
This is clearly an escalation of the Trump administration’s attack on free speech, and retaliation for ABC and Disney’s refusal to cower to Trump’s threats and censor their stations.
We refuse to allow Trump to weaponize the FCC to punish speech. The retaliation and censorship must end NOW!
Why is this important?
Eight Disney-owned ABC affiliates will have to prove to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr that they have been operating in the public interest. They have 30 days to file their licenses—with May 28 the deadline. Disney has responded that they will comply with the request, noting that they are confident that they have acted in accordance with “the Communications Act and the First Amendment.”
It is an egregious display of overreach for the FCC to review ABC station licenses because they are not cowering to Trump’s demands.
Our government should not be in the business of telling the American people what to think, what to laugh at, what to say, and what to criticize. But that’s exactly what they are doing.
This is a continuation of the FCC’s threats against ABC and Disney last year after Kimmel came under similar fire from Trump following his on-air criticism of Republicans and MAGA figures exploiting Charlie Kirk’s murder.
Back in September, Chairman of the FCC Brendan Carr warned he had a strong case for taking action against Kimmel and insinuated that Disney’s license was on the line. Public outrage pressured ABC and Disney to reinstate Kimmel’s show—and now the FCC is punishing them.
Together we can demonstrate that the American people OPPOSE government-sanctioned censorship, and that we’re ready to defend our First Amendment rights. Add your name to the petition now!