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"We Have to Move Fast": Jane Fonda Relaunches Father's Free Speech Group to Counter Trump Censorship

2025-10-03 News & Politics
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Democracy Now!
Democracy Now!
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Jane Fonda Relaunches Historic Free Speech Organization Amid Current Political Pressures

Learn why Jane Fonda is reviving the Committee for the First Amendment founded by her father, and how unified, nonviolent resistance can effectively challenge aggressive state power consolidation.

Short Summary

  • Jane Fonda relaunched the 1947 Committee for the First Amendment to combat current threats to free expression and government overreach.
  • Experts suggest current authoritarian consolidation is happening faster than during the McCarthy era, demanding rapid, unified response.
  • Effective pushback relies on nonviolent non-cooperation that impacts powerful institutions financially. This segment features Jane Fonda detailing the urgency behind reviving her father Henry Fonda’s civil liberties group, drawing sharp comparisons between today’s political climate and the repression of the 1950s. Use historical examples of successful resistance to inform current resistance strategies.

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Description

Support our work: https://democracynow.org/donate/sm-desc-yt The Oscar-winning actress and activist Jane Fonda is relaunching her father Henry Fonda's free speech organization, the Committee for the First Amendment. First established in 1947 to combat the rise of McCarthyism, the organization brings together members of the film and television industry to push back against and refuse government censorship. Fonda's announcement comes after the television network ABC brought back late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's show following widespread protest. Kimmel's show had been pulled from the air after he made comments criticizing the Trump administration's response to the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. "This regime is held up by pillars: military, media, professions and so forth. If each pillar organizes to remove support, we can do it," says Fonda about why she's decided to relaunch the organization now. "We have to do it." Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET. Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest: https://democracynow.org/subscribe

Top Comments (10)

@peace-or2cp 2025-10-03

The older freedom fighters have a wealth of wisdom to share. Appreciations for this segment.

620 26 replies
@cloratodepotasa 2025-10-03

If you abandon Freedom, Freedom dies.

554 22 replies
@butterfly13flies 2025-10-03

Jane is spot on. "When it hits them in their pocketbooks, this is what really matters." And this is the only thing they understand. Keep it up, everyone!!

471 16 replies
@lindachimenti3539 2025-10-03

time for a general strike

402 23 replies
@lisadeak5723 2025-10-03

My fav quote: Woke just means that you care about people. - Jane Fonda

380 35 replies
@Judy-g1y3g 2025-10-04

Very well said Jane Fonda! Your father would be proud of you!! We are proud of you and we will stand strong as a nation and fight!

323 15 replies
@Sherlock-x8h 2025-10-04

At 87 and as strong, vibrant and engaged as she was when she was a young woman. Hats off to Jane...

285 12 replies
@MeMe-u8h 2025-10-03

When money is your God, you can be controlled by Boycott

8
@multifacetedperson 2025-10-14

She is 100% correct in referring to the civil rights movement. I think they were the most successful protest movement in the past hundred years in the United States. The nonviolence, even in the face of violence was what captured hearts and minds from people of every race and from around the world.

6
@PatriciaSantos-yn2ne 2025-10-05

"The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant. "

2

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