ROCKFORD, Ill. —  One local lawmaker is speaking out following the blackout of Jimmy Kimmel Live! by two broadcast stations earlier in the week. 

It comes after the late night show returned to ABC stations Tuesday, but was preempted by Sinclair and Nexstar-owned stations until Friday. 

State Senator Steve Stadelman criticized the FCC, calling the decision a threat to free speech and first amendment rights.

“It’s just shocking to me,” said Stadelman. “That’s not the FCC role. I think it’s a scary time in this country when you have a government entity threatening broadcasters and threatening to pull licenses because of something that was said that somebody didn’t like, the President of the United States did not like. And that’s extremely worrisome to me.” 

Stadelman believes when ABC made the decision to return Kimmel to air earlier this week, Sinclair and Nexstar-owned stations should’ve followed suit.

He stressed the issue is not partisan but about protecting free speech and the First Amendment.

“To me, it goes the fundamental nature of what we have in this country, and that’s right for free speech and the First Amendment guarantees our ability to say what we want and criticize a president and poke fun of them, and the fact that that was not followed is is extremely bothersome to me, and even though they reversed course and Kimmel is now back on the air across the country, at Sinclair, Nexstar, and all ABC stations, it should have never happened in the first place.” 

He added the decision to preempt Kimmel was a corporate one, emphasizing the importance of corporations to listen to the public’s demands and protect free speech.

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