In a spirited display of support, a small group of demonstrators convened in New York City on Sunday to rally behind Stephen Colbert, the recently dismissed host of "The Late Show."
The gathering, dubbed the "We're With Colbert" rally, took place outside the CBS Broadcast Center on Manhattan's West Side. Despite the fervor, the event drew a modest crowd of approximately 20 individuals, as reported by the New York Post. Notably, even the New York Police Department officers assigned to maintain order departed soon after the rally commenced.
According to the Daily Caller, the event organizer, who identified himself as Matt and went by the nickname "Slim," expressed concerns about the erosion of First Amendment rights. "Our country is not perfect, never has been," he remarked, emphasizing the importance of free speech. He further criticized what he referred to as "Mango Mussolini," suggesting an infringement on these fundamental liberties.
The rally attracted participants who voiced opposition to what they perceived as the influence of oligarchs and billionaires. One protester declared, "This is the Sons of Liberty, we are here to resist fascist oligarchs, wish dot com dictators, billionaires who have their boots on the neck of nearly every American citizen. Trying to take back patriotic symbolism from the right-wing."
The sentiment of dissent was palpable among the attendees, with another protester asserting, "We are allowed to disagree, and if people like Stephen are not allowed to disagree because the President doesnt like his opinion, then the President himself is not following the First Amendment."
This individual underscored the importance of freedom of expression, stating, "Im willing to spend my free time expressing my freedom of expression, and I personally do not agree with our politicians meddling with our free press."
The protest was marked by a variety of signs, one of which read, "Sorry Folks, But Ignoring It Is What Hitler Did," while another proclaimed, "He Wants To Kill Our Laughter, Heil To The No No No!" These messages encapsulated the demonstrators' concerns about perceived threats to free speech and expression.
The backdrop to this rally was CBS's announcement on July 17, as reported by Variety, that it would be discontinuing Colbert's show. This decision coincided with the merger between Skydance and Paramount, CBS's parent company, sparking speculation that hosts like Colbert might face heightened scrutiny from Skydance executives.
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