“Jane Fonda Revives Historic Hollywood Committee in What She Calls the Most Frightening Moment of Her Life”

Nearly eight decades after some of Hollywood’s brightest stars—Henry Fonda, Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra, and Judy Garland—joined together to form the Committee for the First Amendment in defense of free expression during the McCarthy era, the organization is being revived in 2025.

And at the helm of this modern reincarnation is none other than Jane Fonda, who calls the present moment “the most frightening moment of my life.

The announcement came during a press event in Los Angeles this September, held in a historic theater once frequented by the very icons who first launched the Committee in 1947.

Standing at a podium draped with a banner reading “Freedom of Expression is Democracy’s Foundation,” Fonda’s voice carried both urgency and emotion as she addressed the gathering of journalists, activists, and fellow artists.

“When my father, Henry Fonda, stood with his peers against McCarthyism, they knew silence was not an option,” she began.

“Today, we face a climate that is just as dangerous, if not more so.

Censorship, intimidation, and authoritarian tendencies are rising all around us.

I cannot remain silent.

The original Committee for the First Amendment was formed in the aftermath of the House Un-American Activities Committee’s aggressive investigations into alleged Communist ties within Hollywood.

Many actors, directors, and writers were blacklisted, careers destroyed, and the entertainment industry forever scarred by the era’s political witch hunts.

The group’s efforts, while controversial at the time, became a landmark chapter in the defense of free speech in American culture.

Fonda, drawing on this legacy, explained why she felt the need to bring the organization back now.

“I have lived through wars, civil rights struggles, and political battles,” she told the audience.

“But I have never felt the fragility of our freedoms so acutely as I do today.

From attempts to silence journalists, to laws curtailing educators, to pressure on entertainers not to speak their truths—this is a moment that demands action.

In the days leading up to the launch, whispers had already spread throughout Hollywood and Washington.

Sources confirmed that several high-profile figures, including actors Mark Ruffalo, Viola Davis, and Robert De Niro, as well as musicians like John Legend, had signaled support for the revived Committee.

Some are expected to serve as founding members, echoing the star-studded roster of the 1947 initiative.

The revival has already stirred debate.

Critics argue that entertainers should stay out of politics, dismissing the move as another example of Hollywood overstepping its influence.

Conservative commentators, in particular, labeled the effort as “performative” and “a partisan stunt.

” But supporters insist the group is nonpartisan, pointing instead to its mission of defending free speech, protecting whistleblowers, and ensuring artists, journalists, and ordinary citizens can express dissent without fear.

At the event, Fonda emphasized this broader vision.

“This is not about left or right,” she said firmly.

“This is about the First Amendment, the cornerstone of American democracy.

Without it, none of us—regardless of our politics—will have a voice.

The launch comes at a time when Hollywood itself has been grappling with shifting political winds.

Several studios have faced criticism for altering scripts to appease international markets, streaming platforms have been accused of removing controversial content under pressure, and comedians have increasingly spoken out about the chilling effect of corporate and political interference.

These developments, Fonda argued, mirror the pressures of McCarthyism in a modern form.

To illustrate her point, Fonda shared a personal story.

“When I protested the Vietnam War, I was vilified, blacklisted from projects, and called un-American,” she recalled.

“It was painful, but I stood by my convictions.

Today, I see younger generations facing similar attacks for speaking up about climate change, racial justice, or gender equality.

This Committee is for them as much as it is for me.

The Committee’s revival is not only symbolic but also practical.

According to organizers, the group will fund legal defenses for individuals facing censorship, provide grants to journalists and artists investigating politically sensitive issues, and host public forums on the importance of free expression.

Plans are already underway for a nationwide tour of universities and theaters where members will engage directly with the public.

Reaction from the entertainment world has been swift.

On Instagram, actress Viola Davis praised Fonda’s leadership, writing: “Jane has never backed down from a fight that mattered.

At a time when voices are being silenced, we need hers louder than ever.

” Mark Ruffalo tweeted, “The Committee for the First Amendment is back.

The stakes are high.

Let’s protect democracy together.

But not all reactions have been supportive.

Talk radio host and commentator Dan Michaels scoffed at the effort during his broadcast: “Hollywood elites trying to lecture America about freedom? Give me a break.

They’re the most privileged people in the world.

If Jane Fonda thinks she’s living through the ‘most frightening moment of her life,’ she should take a look at real working families struggling to pay bills.

Still, Fonda appears unfazed by such criticism.

In a backstage conversation after the event, overheard by reporters, she remarked to a colleague: “They called my father un-American.

They called me a traitor.

If they’re calling us names again, that means we’re hitting a nerve.

The return of the Committee for the First Amendment feels both like a historical echo and a bold step into uncertain territory.

By invoking the legacy of Hollywood legends like Henry Fonda and Judy Garland, Jane Fonda has not only honored her father’s generation but also signaled that the fight for free expression is far from over.

As she concluded her speech, the room fell silent.

“This is not just about Hollywood,” she said.

“It’s about teachers, workers, students, and anyone who dares to speak out.

If we lose the right to dissent, we lose democracy itself.

That is why, at 86 years old, I am not retiring—I am raising my voice louder than ever.

With those words, the crowd rose in a standing ovation, marking the beginning of what could be one of the most significant cultural and political movements in modern Hollywood.

For Jane Fonda, it is not just a revival of a historic committee—it is, as she calls it, her life’s most urgent fight.