Jane Fonda issued a stark warning about the current state of the country, telling viewers that the consequences of government actions under President Donald Trump are no longer abstract but deadly.
The 79-year-old actress and activist appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where she delivered an impassioned plea for Americans to defend their constitutional rights against what she characterized as encroaching authoritarianism.
Fonda said that if a government fails to meet the needs of its people, then something is fundamentally wrong. She argued that the country is witnessing unprecedented developments, noting that the current situation is nothing like the 1940s or 1950s. According to her, authoritarianism has now seeped into every corner of the government.
Fonda directly referenced the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman, by an ICE agent on January 7. An ICE agent fired multiple shots into Good’s SUV, and Good’s vehicle crashed after being shot.
According to Fonda, Minneapolis—where Ms. Good was shot—has become a place where people are being shot and even blinded, and she believes the situation has escalated into something deeply troubling. She emphasized that the issue is not about political affiliation but about fundamental right and wrong, saying that critical lines are being crossed and that the public has reached a breaking point. Fonda stressed that Americans pride themselves on bravery and that many have sacrificed their lives for the nation’s freedoms. She warned that these freedoms must be protected now, because once surrendered, they may not be recoverable when needed in the future.
The actress urged Americans to respond collectively, emphasizing the importance of building solidarity and community rather than acting alone.
Fonda has relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment, a revival of a McCarthy-era initiative. The committee is designed to defend free speech from government overreach and now counts more than 550 entertainment figures among its supporters, including Viola Davis, Kerry Washington, Natalie Portman, Spike Lee, Pedro Pascal, Ben Stiller, Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend and Billie Eilish.
Fonda’s commitment to activism has been a major part of her life, standing alongside her acting career since the 1960s, when she took part in the Civil Rights Movement and demonstrations opposing the Vietnam War. She visited North Vietnam in 1972, a controversial trip that earned her the nickname “Hanoi Jane” and lasting criticism from conservatives. She has continued putting herself on the front lines of political activism in recent years, including multiple arrests for climate protests in Washington DC in 2019.
The Committee for the First Amendment represents a direct challenge to what Fonda and its supporters view as government threats to constitutional freedoms. The original committee was formed during the McCarthy era to defend free speech against government repression, bringing together Americans across the political spectrum to stand up for constitutional principles.
The committee’s revival comes amid mounting concerns in Hollywood about free speech and government pressure on media outlets. Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live following pressure from Brendan Carr. Colbert’s show was cancelled by Paramount, a decision that drew praise from Trump and his supporters.
Late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, both critics of Trump, have discussed their experiences being taken off the air. The cancellations have prompted widespread discussion in the entertainment industry about the relationship between political speech and corporate decision-making.
Fonda also emphasized that while the United States has faced attempts at autocracy before, including in the 1920s and 1930s with McCarthyism and Jim Crow, the current situation is different and warrants serious concern.
The entertainment industry has historically played a significant role in American political activism, from the McCarthy-era blacklists to the Vietnam War protests to modern-day movements for civil rights and social justice. The Committee for the First Amendment’s original formation came at a time when the federal government was actively investigating and persecuting citizens for their political beliefs, leading to careers destroyed and lives upended.
That era ended when Americans finally came together across political lines to defend constitutional principles against repression. Fonda and the committee’s supporters argue that similar forces have returned, requiring a renewed commitment to defending fundamental rights.
The participation of prominent figures like Viola Davis, Kerry Washington and Spike Lee signals broad concern within the entertainment community about the current political climate. These artists join a long tradition of celebrity activism that has shaped American public discourse on issues ranging from civil rights to foreign policy to environmental protection.
Fonda’s appearance on The Late Show represents a continuation of her decades-long commitment to political activism. At 79 years old, she remains one of Hollywood’s most outspoken voices on political issues, willing to risk arrest and public criticism to advocate for causes she believes in.
The shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis has become a focal point for critics of current immigration enforcement practices. The incident has raised questions about the use of force by federal agents and the circumstances under which deadly force is justified during enforcement operations.
Fonda’s call for solidarity and collective action echoes themes that have animated progressive activism throughout American history. From labor organizing to civil rights marches to contemporary movements for social justice, the power of collective action has repeatedly proven central to achieving political change in the United States.
The relaunched Committee for the First Amendment faces the challenge of defending constitutional rights in an era of deep political polarization and rapidly evolving media landscapes. Whether the committee can replicate the success of its McCarthy-era predecessor in bringing together Americans across political divides remains to be seen.