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July 21 Refuse Fascism Protest of Colbert Cancellation Draws International Interest
On Monday July 21, Refuse Fascism led a protest and speak-out at the Ed Sullivan Theater as people waited in line to get into The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Our message: Colbert Stays — Trump Must Go.
The protest brought people together in angry defiance of a cancellation that, in effect, is collaboration with the Trump fascist regime’s suppression of dissenting voices and culture.
Emma Kaplan, an organizer of the protest, said, “We’re here because this is fascist censorship and fascist retaliation against Stephen Colbert. We’re calling on everyone right now to stand up and refuse to accept the censorship of voices of dissent. This is also coming at a time when Trump is kidnapping immigrants, targeting Democratic officials, opening up concentration camps, so we are saying that Trump Must Go Now and it’s up to all of us to stand up in mass refusal, to drive this regime from power.”
The event received coverage from local, national, and international press, and by general and entertainment news media.
CBS News NYC: https://refusefascism.org/recent-media/cbs-news-crowd-gathers-in-nyc-to-protest-canceling-of-the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/
Latenighter.com https://latenighter.com/news/protesters-gather-outside-studio-as-stephen-colbert-tapes-mon-night-episode/
ANI News https://youtu.be/xTU7cQE2D5c?si=ttqmdosbD4i-8i
Speakers included performer and drag queen Brita Filter:
Human Rights Activist Jim Keady also spoke at the protest and said, “We are dealing with a different animal. This is a fascist regime. It is consolidating authoritarian power. It is getting more power from the courts. We have a citizenry that I’m not sure has awakened to the fact of what we’re dealing with. Our very representative democracy enshrined in the Constitution of the United States is on the line.”
Hundreds of people received a flyer calling for mass non-compliance and non-violent resistance and publicizing the launch No Business As Usual on Monday July 28 of noise demonstrations across the country to demand:
Shut Down ICE – No Military Occupation
Shut Down the Whole Trump Fascist Regime
TRUMP MUST GO NOW