Clockwise from top left: Jane Fonda, John Legend, Ben Stiller, Whoopi Goldberg, Billie Eilish, and Spike Lee.
Neilson Barnard; Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy; David Livingston; Dia Dipasupil; Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Karl Lagerfeld; Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival/Getty Images
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Neilson Barnard; Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy; David Livingston; Dia Dipasupil; Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Karl Lagerfeld; Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival/Getty Images
On Wednesday, a coalition of more than 550 prominent figures in entertainment and activism revived the Committee for the First Amendment, a group originally formed during the post-World War II era of political repression. Their mission is to defend what they describe as “our constitutional freedoms,” warning that the federal government is currently orchestrating a widespread effort to suppress dissenting voices across various sectors including government, media, the judiciary, academia, and the arts.
Leading this renewed initiative is Jane Fonda, an acclaimed actor and activist. Notably, her father, Henry Fonda, was among the founding members of the original Committee for the First Amendment in the 1940s. That group was established to resist the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), which notoriously targeted entertainers suspected of communist affiliations, often ruining careers through blacklisting and intimidation.
The reconstituted committee boasts an impressive roster of influential creatives and performers. Among them are directors Spike Lee, Barry Jenkins, J.J. Abrams, Patty Jenkins, Aaron Sorkin, and Judd Apatow; television creator Quinta Brunson; musicians Barbra Streisand, John Legend, Janelle Monáe, and Billie Eilish; comedians Tiffany Haddish and Nikki Glaser; and actors Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Kerry Washington, Pedro Pascal, Natalie Portman, Viola Davis, Ben Stiller, and Fran Drescher, the latter having recently completed her tenure as president of the SAG-AFTRA union, which includes NPR journalists.
The letter penned by the group recalls the origins of the Committee during the McCarthy Era, describing it as a “dark chapter” when the government persecuted citizens for their political beliefs. This repression extended to elected officials, academics, artists, and government workers who faced blacklisting, harassment, censorship, and imprisonment. The era only ended when Americans from diverse political backgrounds united to uphold constitutional principles against authoritarian tactics.
They warn that similar oppressive forces have resurfaced today, emphasizing the urgent need to collectively safeguard constitutional rights. The statement stresses that protecting freedom of speech and expression transcends political affiliations and is a fundamental issue for all.
In her invitation to fellow artists and activists, Jane Fonda reflects on her extensive life experience: “At 87, I have witnessed war, oppression, protests, and backlash. I have been both celebrated and vilified as an enemy of the state. Yet, this moment feels the most alarming. When fear takes hold, I turn to history. There is no secret manual for these times-only one strategy has proven effective repeatedly: unity. Standing together, drawing courage from our numbers, and defending each other is the path forward.”
