Jane Fonda Relaunches Committee For The First Amendment With 550 Celebrities

Jane Fonda is relaunching the Committee for the First Amendment, the McCarthy-era committee founded by her father Henry Fonda with such stars as Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall to protect against attacks on free speech.

Fonda’s new iteration already has the support of more than 550 boldface including Barbra Streisand, Kerry Washginton, Natalie Portman, Aaron Sorkin, Spike Lee, Viola Davis, Pedro Pascal, Gracie Abrams, Ben Stiller, Whoopi Goldberg, Sean Penn, John Legend, Julianne Moore, Janelle Monae, Issa Rae, Adam McKay, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ethan Hawke, Quinta Brunson, Judd Apatow, Billie Eillish, Anjelica Huston, Rosie O’Donnell, Helen Mirren, Patty Jenkins, Damon Lindelof, Fran Drescher and Ted Danson, among others.

Find the full list of signees here.

In its first statement, released today, the Committee writes, “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. They targeted elected officials, government employees, academics, and artists. They were blacklisted, harassed, silenced, and even imprisoned….Those forces have returned. And it is our turn to stand together in defense of our constitutional rights.”

The statement also called out corporate capitulation, in the wake of Disney’s decision to pull, the reinstate, Jimmy Kimmel following a warning from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. The committee wrote that “to those who profit from our work while threatening the livelihoods of everyday working people, bowing to government censorship, and cowering to brute intimidation: we see you and history will not forget. This will not be the last you hear from us.”

Read the full statement below.

“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,” the Committee statement reads. “We refuse to stand by and let that happen. Free speech and free expression are the inalienable rights of every American of all backgrounds and political beliefs – no matter how liberal or conservative you may be. The ability to criticize, question, protest, and even mock those in power is foundational to what America has always aspired to be.”

The Committee also released the committee invitation letter written by Fonda. It begins:

“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. When I feel scared, I look to history. I wish there were a secret playbook with all the answers—but there never has been. 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.”

Fonda continues, “I’m asking you to join me by adding your name to a joint statement with fellow artists and creators, which will be shared publicly soon. The stakes are too high, and silence is too costly. This statement is the Committee’s first act. Signing on to it does not commit you to anything other than the values espoused in the statement. That said, speaking out together is our foundation—and the principle we will return to as we shape what comes next.”

Below, read the invitation letter and the Committee statement in full:

INVITATION TO JOIN

Dear Friend,

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. When I feel scared, I look to history. I wish there were a secret playbook with all the answers—but there never has been. 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.

That’s why I believe the time is now to relaunch the Committee for the First Amendment—the same Committee my father, Henry Fonda, joined with other artists during the McCarthy era, when so many were silenced or even imprisoned simply for their words and their craft.

I’m asking you to join me by adding your name to a joint statement with fellow artists and creators, which will be shared publicly soon. The stakes are too high, and silence is too costly. This statement is the Committee’s first act. Signing on to it does not commit you to anything other than the values espoused in the statement. That said, speaking out together is our foundation—and the principle we will return to as we shape what comes next.

I hope you’ll stand with me now. They’re betting on our fear and our silence. But our industry—and artists around the world—have a long history of refusing to be silenced, even in the darkest times. We face a powerful assault today, but we still have our voices, each other, and the freedom to express ourselves. Let’s speak out before it’s too late.

With gratitude,
Jane

COMMITTEE STATEMENT

Today, we relaunch the Committee for the First Amendment.

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. They targeted elected officials, government employees, academics, and artists. They were blacklisted, harassed, silenced, and even imprisoned.

The McCarthy Era ended when Americans from across the political spectrum finally came together and stood up for the principles in the Constitution against the forces of repression.

Those forces have returned. And it is our turn to stand together in defense of our constitutional rights.
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.

We refuse to stand by and let that happen. Free speech and free expression are the inalienable rights of every American of all backgrounds and political beliefs – no matter how liberal or conservative you may be. The ability to criticize, question, protest, and even mock those in power is foundational to what America has always aspired to be.

We understand that this is a frightening and confusing moment for many people. We recognize that we represent just one group of many who are under threat right now. Across classrooms, libraries, factories, companies and workplaces of all kinds, Americans of every walk of life are facing intimidation and censorship too — and we stand with them.

We know there is power in solidarity and strength in numbers. We will stand together—fiercely united—to defend free speech and expression from this assault. This is not a partisan issue. That is why we urge every American who cares about the First Amendment—the cornerstone of our democracy—and every artist around the globe who looks to the United States as a beacon of freedom to join us.

And to those who profit from our work while threatening the livelihoods of everyday working people, bowing to government censorship, and cowering to brute intimidation: we see you and history will not forget. This will not be the last you hear from us.