New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani announced on Monday that he will skip this week’s WABC town hall. The decision follows the indefinite suspension of talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.
Mamdani made the announcement during a press briefing at Roosevelt Island’s Four Freedoms Park. He cited the federal government’s role in Kimmel’s removal as a direct threat to freedom of the press.
“It’s not the government’s role to silence media voices,” Mamdani declared. “That job belongs to the people, not politicians.” Initially, the event, organized by ABC’s New York affiliate, was scheduled for Thursday. However, Mamdani believes attending would legitimize what he calls media censorship.
In response, his remarks were sharp and pointed. He described recent federal actions as “a dangerous slide toward authoritarianism.” Shortly after, the White House responded quickly. Press Secretary Abigail Jackson mocked Mamdani, calling him “too scared to defend absurd ideas on live TV.”
But Mamdani stood firm. He likened today’s climate to World War II’s early days, invoking Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous Four Freedoms speech. He said, “Roosevelt warned us about tyranny. Today, freedom of the press is again under attack by federal interference.”
Meanwhile, the 33-year-old candidate accused major corporations of compromising journalistic independence. Specifically, he criticized media giants like Nexstar and Sinclair for placing profit over the First Amendment.
Furthermore, Mamdani stated, “Corporate owners chose mergers over truth. That’s why ABC silenced Kimmel under FCC pressure.” Importantly, Mamdani emphasized his withdrawal was not aimed at local reporters. “This isn’t about WABC’s journalists,” he clarified. “Rather, it’s about leadership decisions that harm freedom of the press.”
He also promised to join another town hall soon, this time hosted by a group that values open public dialogue. As the November election nears, Mamdani continues to frame his campaign around civil liberties and democratic values. He warned, “If we remain silent, we lose more than a TV host. We risk losing the soul of democracy.”
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