10/03/2025
Jane Fonda has relaunched the McCarthy-era Committee for the First Amendment, backed by a statement signed by more than 550 of the entertainment industry's biggest names. The statement, which was released yesterday to announce the group's formation, drew parallels between the actions of the Trump administration and the McCarthy era of the 1950s, when Americans were targeted with allegations over their political beliefs and activities.
"Those forces have returned. And it is our turn to stand together in defense of our constitutional rights," the group said. "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 declared: "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 original Committee for the First Amendment was established in 1947 in response to the emerging Red Scare that would intensify during the McCarthy era, when Fonda's father Henry Fonda joined forces with other Hollywood legends including Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Ava Gardner, and Katharine Hepburn. The committee was formed to defend free speech and oppose the House Committee on un-American Activities, which targeted private citizens, organizations, and government employees with often baseless allegations of communist ties as a means to silence dissent and enforce political conformity. This period became synonymous with Senator Joseph McCarthy's use of indiscriminate allegations to root out individuals for their alleged behavior, during which many were silenced or imprisoned simply for their words and craft.
McCarthy's tactics were eventually discredited, and he was formally censured by the Senate in 1954 for behavior "contrary to senatorial traditions," marking a repudiation of his destructive campaign of accusation and intimidation that had ruined countless careers and lives. His legacy became so notorious that his name itself evolved into shorthand for reckless political persecution -- "McCarthyism" now stands as a damning term for the abuse of government power to suppress dissent through unfounded accusations and fear-mongering.
In a letter asking her peers to join the relaunched committee, Fonda wrote: "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." She emphasized the importance of collective action in uncertain times: "When I feel scared, I look to history. I wish there were a secret playbook with all the answers – but there never has been." She underscored the value of solidarity and "binding together, finding bravery in numbers too big to ignore, and standing up for one another." Fonda added: "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."
The signatories of the statement announcing the Committee for the First Amendment's relaunch include Pedro Pascal, Barbra Streisand, Glenn Close, Billie Eilish, Ben Stiller, John Legend, Natalie Portman, Spike Lee, Viola Davis, Whoopi Goldberg, and hundreds of other actors, directors, and writers. In their statement, the committee asserted: "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," they further observed. "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." Underscoring this sense of urgency, Fonda warned in a video message that "this isn't a creeping totalitarianism, this is fast-moving consolidation of autocracy, and that means we have to move fast," adding that "the stakes are too high, and silence is too costly."
To read the Committee for the First Amendment's founding statement and view the list of signers, visit https://www.committeeforthefirstamendment.com
For those who work in the entertainment industry, you can add your name and join the Committee at https://www.committeeforthefirstamendment.com/join
To inspire children and teens with the true stories of girls and women who stood up for truth and justice throughout history, visit our blog post, "Dissent Is Patriotic: 50 Books About Women Who Fought for Change," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=14364
For two inspiring books about girls fighting against censorship in schools - both for ages 9 to 12 - we highly recommend "Ban This Book" (https://www.amightygirl.com/ban-this-book) and "Property of the Rebel Librarian" (https://www.amightygirl.com/property-of-the-rebel-librarian)
For a thought-provoking young adult novel exploring censorship, we recommend "Suggested Reading" for ages 14 and up at https://www.amightygirl.com/suggested-reading
For two excellent books about Mighty Girls who find hope by reading forbidden books - both for ages 12 and up - we recommend "Voices" (https://www.amightygirl.com/voices) and "The Book Thief" (https://www.amightygirl.com/the-book-thief)
For books for tweens and teens about girls living in real-life oppressive societies with little respect for freedom of expression, visit our blog post "The Fragility of Freedom: Mighty Girl Books About Life Under Authoritarianism" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=32426
To read more the relaunch of the Committee for the First Amendment, visit https://wapo.st/487AYJ2
