Jane Fonda Warns of ‘Existential Crisis’ Amid Protests

Fonda Speaks Out on Attacks Against First Amendment

Legendary actor and activist Jane Fonda has issued a stark warning about the current state of democratic freedoms in the United States. Speaking at an event defending free expression outside the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Fonda highlighted widespread attacks on the First Amendment, which protects fundamental rights like speech, press, religion, assembly, and protest.

Fonda, a co-founder of the Modern Committee for the First Amendment, expressed deep concern that these rights are under threat. She noted that institutions and historical narratives, particularly those related to racial history and slavery, are being censored and erased. “We have to understand what’s happening. This is not normal,” Fonda stated. “It does not happen in a democracy, and we have to call it what it is, and we have to end it.”

She emphasized the critical importance of the First Amendment, calling it “the cornerstone of all democracies.” Fonda warned that such attacks often worsen during times of conflict, as governments may try to suppress dissent. “Our parents, our forefathers fought and died for these rights, for these freedoms. We must not sit by quietly and watch them taken away,” she urged.

Mass Protests Signal Growing Public Concern

Fonda’s remarks come at a time of significant public mobilization. The transcript references large-scale protests organized by groups like “No Kings.” On Donald Trump’s birthday last year, over 5 million people participated in a nationwide protest, marking what was then the third-largest day of protest in U.S. history. This record was soon broken by a subsequent “No Kings” protest in October, which organizers reported drew approximately 7 million participants.

Now, “No Kings” is preparing for a third major protest scheduled for March 28th, with over 3,000 events planned across the country. Fonda believes this surge in activism is a direct response to what she describes as authoritarian tendencies. “The more Trump acts like an authoritarian or a king for that matter, the more Americans of all stripes feel like they need to stand up against it,” she explained.

Fonda plans to attend the flagship rally in St. Paul, Minnesota, for the upcoming “No Kings” protest. She sees these large gatherings as a vital way to energize people who may feel desperate or unsure how to act. “People are desperate. People are, we are the majority. So we have to act like it,” Fonda said. She encourages attendees to bring friends and family, especially those new to activism, to build community and strengthen the movement.

A Critical Moment for Democracy and Climate

Fonda, who has been an activist for decades, having been involved in the anti-war and civil rights movements, described the current political climate as the most frightening of her life. She distinguished it from past tumultuous periods by noting that, in her view, an authoritarian regime has “broken through” in the U.S. for the first time in history, and it’s happening faster than in any other industrialized democracy.

She also linked the fight for democratic freedoms to the urgent climate crisis. “We’re facing an existential climate crisis and fossil fuels are everywhere with this guy,” Fonda stated, referencing the Trump administration’s policies. “So we’re fighting two existential fights and they’re very connected.” She believes that the current moment is a unique opportunity to create history and change the future.

Fonda stressed the importance of collective action and mutual support, citing examples like carpenters repairing doors damaged by ICE raids and neighbors helping immigrant families. “Neighboring has become the way to change the world,” she noted. “Get to know your neighbor. Reach your arms out, bring in people that you may not fully agree with. As long as you believe in freedom, the right to speak, the right to express yourself.”

A Call to Action: ‘We Can Save the Future’

Despite the gravity of the situation, Fonda offered a message of hope and empowerment. “I am so grateful that I’m alive right now. This is such an important time to be alive,” she declared. “It is in our hands, we can save the future.” She urged people to unite, join organizations, and study the forms of resistance emerging in communities like Minneapolis, encouraging them to replicate such efforts locally.

Fonda, who is 88 years old, stated she is not tired because she is excited about the potential for change. She believes that by acting together, people can overcome the “chaos and terror and disruption” they are experiencing. Her passionate plea resonated as a powerful call to action for a generation facing critical challenges to democracy and the environment.

“Our parents, our forefathers fought and died for these rights, for these freedoms. We must not sit by quietly and watch them taken away.”

“This is not normal. This does not happen in a democracy, and we have to call it what it is, and we have to end it.”

“It is in our hands, we can save the future.”

Source: 'We can save the future': Jane Fonda SPEAKS OUT on activism in the Trump era (YouTube)