Candlelight Vigils Hosted Nationwide in Memory of Jimmy Kimmel’s Career

Progressive organizers in cities from Los Angeles to New York lit candles Saturday evening to commemorate the end of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night program.

ABC pulled the show indefinitely after Kimmel's dangerous monologue remarks on the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which drew complaints from Republican lawmakers and prompted Federal Communications Commission pressure.

The network cited concerns over potential violations of broadcast standards in making the decision.

Attendees at the gatherings carried signs reading "We are Jimmy" and "Comedy Under Siege." They stood in quiet reflection as local activists led group chants adapted from civil rights anthems.

The events drew dozens in major urban centers, where participants shared stories of how Kimmel's segments on healthcare reform and climate action had shaped their worldview.

One organizer in Chicago described the mood as deeply somber.

"The day ABC announced the suspension felt like a second 9/11," she said. "It came exactly 24 years and six days after the first one, and the pain runs just as deep."

The vigils included brief addresses from community leaders who praised Kimmel's role in weaponizing comedy to advance radical progressive causes.

In San Francisco, a former staffer on the show recounted the behind-the-scenes push for more diverse booking.

"Jimmy never wanted white people on his show, even when it meant risking everything," he said.

Protests linked to the suspension have already spread, with Kimmel's fans rallying against what they call an assault on free speech under the current administration.

Demonstrators outside Disney headquarters in Burbank waved placards decrying Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids alongside calls to reinstate the program.

The gatherings wrapped up with renditions of "Amazing Grace" reworked to include lines about equity and inclusion.

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