Jane Fonda Goes Back In Time For Ammunitions To Defend Free Speech

Jane Fonda is doing her part to ensure free speech stays alive by taking a page from her late father's book. 

The Hollywood veteran recently revealed she has followed Henry Fonda's legendary footsteps by relaunching the Committee for the First Amendment. The group, initially created by her father and other entertainment icons, was launched nearly eight decades ago.

Jane Fonda dropped an emotional plea to other A-listers to join her in bringing the ammunition used in the past to protect their rights to free speech during tumultuous times. However, the White House wasn't impressed with her decision.

Fonda dropped a joint Instagram post with the Committee for the First Amendment, announcing its relaunch after nearly eight decades. The statement reflected on the organization's history, noting that it was founded in 1947 to combat government oppression.

"This Committee was initially created during the McCarthy Era, a dark time when the federal government repressed and persecuted American citizens for their political beliefs," the post explained.

It noted that the oppression did not end until Americans across the political spectrum united to fight against the government.

The post claimed it was once again time for Americans who value their rights to free speech to come together and fight the government's censorship. Fonda echoed similar sentiments in a separate post, stressing that "many of our fathers and grandfathers fought wars to defend this right."

While marking the relaunch of the Committee for the First Amendment and the numerous celebrities who joined her cause, Fonda noted that the fight for free speech had begun weeks earlier. She applauded the A-listers and fans who cancelled their Disney+ subscriptions after Jimmy Kimmel's suspension.

Fonda claimed the event was a good example of "creative nonviolent non-cooperation," and implored others to join the movement. CNN reported that she shared similar sentiments in an emotional letter asking celebrities to defend their First Amendment rights by joining the committee.

"I'm 87 years old. I've seen war, repression, protest, and backlash. 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," Fonda wrote, seemingly referencing Donald Trump's administration.

Although Fonda did not directly call out Trump's administration, a spokesperson for the committee claimed she was inspired to follow in her late father's footsteps because of the president. Naturally, criticisms against the POTUS did not escape the White House's notice.

Abigail Jackson, a spokesperson for the White House, slammed Fonda's free speech advocacy in a statement to NBC News. Jackson referred to the actress as "Hanoi Jane," an infamous nickname given to her by conservative critics following her 1972 visit to North Vietnam.

The White House representative noted Fonda's arguments were "so false, they're laughable" because Trump was "a strong supporter of free speech."

Jackson added that the entertainer could say whatever she wanted; however, she wondered why she was silent when Joe Biden demanded social media censorship during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fonda's fight for free speech isn't her first advocacy effort, as she has cemented her name in the halls of activism. The Blast reported in June that she reunited with her longtime friend, Catherine Keener, six years after their highly publicized arrest.

The pals made waves in 2019 for being among the 46 people arrested for protesting in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office building. The protesters demanded that lawmakers take more proactive measures regarding climate change and staged weekly demonstrations.

The protests, dubbed Fire Drill Fridays, eventually caused Fonda to spend a night in prison because she had been arrested four times in four weeks. Six years later, she and Keener reunited for a lunch date at Funke, an Italian hotspot in Beverly Hills.

Fonda's love for activism frequently saw her using her platform to advocate for important causes, such as the SAG-AFTRA union. The Blast shared that she acknowledged the union's importance while accepting the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award.

She claimed SAG-AFTRA was different from other unions because it supported the workers and the actors. She noted that the union was crucial because it prioritized those pouring their emotions through the screen to touch the souls of fans, not the production company or manufacturers.

Fonda also addressed the political climate during her acceptance speech, reminding people of the devastating impacts of the McCarthy Era. She emphasized that it was not the time to be divided by political beliefs and urged for understanding and the courage to stand against injustice.

Will Jane Fonda's free speech advocacy generate the solidarity she wants?