ROCKFORD - State Senator Steve Stadelman issued the following statement in response to the Federal Communications Commission's efforts to stifle free speech and Nexstar Media Group's complicity by not airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! He is available to meet reporters at Sedgewick Drive and Inner Circle Drive, immediately north of the WTVO-17 News studio, for interviews this afternoon:

"I'm extremely disappointed with Nexstar Corporation, owner of the local ABC affiliate WTVO-TV.

"Even though ABC's parent corporation Walt Disney allowed Jimmy Kimmel to return to his late-night show last night, it was not seen on ABC stations owned by Nexstar, including in Rockford. 

"The Federal Communications Commission -- now with the aid of the Nexstar broadcast group -- is threatening free speech and first amendment rights.

"Last week, Federal Communications Chairman Brendan Carr made an unprecedented warning that “we can do this the easy way or the hard way” while urging ABC and its affiliates to take action against Kimmel for remarks he made on his show following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

"Kimmel said it best himself last night. Whether you like him or not, whether you support his show or not, we should support his right to poke fun at the president and to share his beliefs. 

"The ability to make fun of political leaders and criticize them is what makes America great. Threats by the FCC to take away broadcast licenses because the president and his supporters don’t like what was said about them is UN-American.

"As a former TV journalist who worked for 25 years at WTVO, I’m alarmed over the Trump administration’s aggressive moves against the media. This is the latest in a string of attacks against news outlets and media figures just because they’re critical of him. Trump has filed lawsuits against outlets whose coverage he dislikes and seeks to bend media companies and other organizations to his will.

"In fact, I passed legislation this past spring in the Illinois General Assembly that allows journalists and companies that employ them to stop frivolous lawsuits from people who don’t like what was written or said about them.

"Donald Trump can't dictate what Americans can say. And government can’t be allowed to control what is done and said on television.

"People need to speak out and make their voices heard. That’s the only way to fight back against efforts by this administration to silence critics.

"It’s shocking to see the willingness of some major U.S. companies to accommodate FCC threats.

"Viewers need to be aware that Nexstar has pending business before the FCC. It’s trying to merge with another big station group. Right now, the company is vulnerable to Chairman Carr’s public pressure and is bending a knee to the president so he will approve its merger.

"This should not be a Democrat or Republican issue. This should not be a liberal or conservative issue. We should all protect free speech. Even Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz said FCC actions are unbelievably dangerous and compared Carr’s rhetoric to mob tactics.

"Government should not put itself in the position of saying we don’t like what you’re saying so we’re going to threaten to take you off the air.

"Finally, I want to make the point that I’m not criticizing local employees of WTVO and WQRF -- but I am criticizing their corporate bosses. If American corporations think they can preserve their independence and integrity by "making deals" with a strongman, they’re wrong. This tactic will only worsen.

"We must protect our first amendment freedoms."