Jane Fonda is once again rallying Hollywood to action.
The 87-year-old actress and longtime activist has revived the Committee for the First Amendment, a Cold War–era group originally founded by her father, Henry, and other Hollywood legends during the McCarthy era to defend freedom of expression.
The original committee, formed in 1947 to oppose the work of the House Un-American Activities Committee, included stars such as Lucille Ball and Judy Garland, who protested against the blacklisting of actors, writers and directors accused of Communist sympathies.
Now, nearly eight decades later, Fonda and more than 800 members of the entertainment industry, including Spike Lee, Billie Eilish, and Pedro Pascal, say history is repeating itself.
‘Those forces have returned,’ the group wrote in a statement announcing its revival. ‘The federal government is once again engaged in a coordinated campaign to silence critics in the government, the media, the judiciary, academia, and the entertainment industry.’
In a video posted to her social media on Wednesday night, Fonda said she was overwhelmed by the response from fellow artists eager to join.
Jane Fonda has revived the Committee for the First Amendment, a Cold War–era group originally founded by her father during the McCarthy era to defend free speech
‘We’re not looking to build an organization,’ she said. ‘We’re looking to grow a movement.’
She went on to praise those who had canceled their Disney+ subscriptions in protest of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension by ABC and held it up as an example of collective action.
‘We’re artists, we’re creatives,’ she said. ‘Freedom of expression is essential to what we do.’
‘Many of our fathers and grandfathers fought wars to defend this right,’ she added. ‘We can’t just sit back and let this happen. And it’s moving fast. This isn’t a creeping totalitarianism. This is fast moving consolidation of autocracy.’
Fonda went on to explain: ‘Doing it as individuals is risky. If we do it in large numbers, then we’re safer. So, that’s what we’re going for. We’re not looking to build an organization. We’re looking to grow a movement.’Â
In a letter inviting her peers to join, Fonda reflected on her lifetime of activism, from the Vietnam War to the women’s liberation, and drew stark parallels between past and present.
‘I’m 87 years old. I’ve seen war, repression, protest, and backlash,’ she wrote. ‘I’ve been celebrated, and I’ve been branded an enemy of the state. But I can tell you this: this is the most frightening moment of my life.’
‘When I feel scared, I look to history,’ she continued. ‘The only thing that has ever worked — time and time again — is solidarity: binding together, finding bravery in numbers too big to ignore, and standing up for one another.’
The 87-year-old actress and longtime activist has revived the Committee for the First Amendment, a Cold War–era group originally founded by her father, Henry Fonda
In a video posted to her social media on Wednesday, Fonda praised those who had canceled their Disney+ subscriptions in protest of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension by ABC; seen in 2019
In a letter inviting her peers to join, Fonda reflected on her lifetime of activism and drew stark parallels between past and present; seen in 2019 at a march at the U.S. Capitol
As expected, the revived movement immediately drew fire from conservative circles.Â
In response to an NBC News request for comment, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson mocked Fonda, referencing her infamous Vietnam War nickname.
‘Hanoi Jane is free to share whatever bad opinions she wants,’ Jackson said. ‘As someone who actually knows what it’s like to be censored, President Trump is a strong supporter of free speech and Democrat allegations to the contrary are so false, they’re laughable.’
Jackson continued, ‘Where were these clowns when Joe Biden was demanding private companies censor average Americans for sharing facts about COVID? Or when Joe Biden’s FBI investigated parents for expressing concerns at school board meetings?’
Despite the backlash, Fonda’s video was flooded with praise from fans and fellow activists.
‘Jane, you’re an incredibly amazing woman at any age, but to be so politically involved and enthusiastic at your age is simply unreal,’ one commenter wrote. ‘Your speech is inspiring — I hope it moves everyone to stand up and fight this terrifying Trump administration.’
Others called her a ‘woman with a bright light in her soul’ and thanked her for ‘bringing people together to stop this nightmare.’
