Extract from The New Daily
Fonda said the film industry has a long history of refusing to be silenced. Photo: Getty
Hundreds of celebrities led by Jane Fonda have revived a free speech initiative originally launched by Hollywood stars including her father during the right-wing repression of the post-World War II McCarthy era.
Fonda and more than 550 celebrities rebooted the Committee for the First Amendment, which was first formed in 1947 by a bevy of actors, including Henry Fonda, in response to hearings by the House Un-American Activities Committee and blacklisting of actual and suspected communists throughout US society, including Hollywood.
The move comes amid fears from many in the US that their country is descending into authoritarianism under President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
“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 renewed committee said.
“We refuse to stand by and let that happen.”
According to America’s National Public Radio, other members of the newly re-formed committee include filmmakers Spike Lee, Barry Jenkins, JJ Abrams, Patty Jenkins, Aaron Sorkin, and Judd Apatow; TV show creator Quinta Brunson; musicians Barbra Streisand, John Legend, Janelle Monáe, Gracie Abrams, and Billie Eilish; comedians Tiffany Haddish and Nikki Glaser; as well as actors Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Kerry Washington, Pedro Pascal, Natalie Portman, Viola Davis, and Ben Stiller.
Another signatory is actor Fran Drescher, who last month ended a term as the president of the SAG-AFTRA union.
“This committee was initially created during the McCarthy era, a dark time when the federal government repressed and persecuted American citizens for their political beliefs,” the initiative’s founders wrote.
“They targeted elected officials, government employees, academics, and artists. They were blacklisted, harassed, silenced, and even imprisoned.”
They added that the McCarthy era ended when Americans from across the political spectrum “finally came together and stood up for the principles in the Constitution against the forces of repression”.
“Those forces have returned. And it is our turn to stand together in defence of our constitutional rights.”
Fonda’s committee revival comes after Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show was temporarily removed from US TV following pressure form Brendan Carr, Trump’s Federal Communications Commission chief, over the comedian’s monologue about far-right podcaster Charlie Kirk’s accused assassin. Kimmel’s show returned amid massive public backlash.
Fonda has more than 60 years of political activism under her belt, starting with the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements and continuing through Fire Drill Fridays, #StopLine3, and the Jane Fonda Climate PAC in more recent years.
“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,” Fonda said in a letter inviting people to join the committee.
“But I can tell you this: This is the most frightening moment of my life,” she continued.
“When I feel scared, I look to history. I wish there were a secret playbook with all the answers – but there never has been. The only thing that has ever worked – time and time again – is solidarity: Binding together, finding bravery in numbers too big to ignore, and standing up for one another.
“They’re betting on our fear and our silence,” Fonda added without identifying anyone by name.
“But our industry – and artists around the world – have a long history of refusing to be silenced, even in the darkest times.”
This article first appeared in Common Dreams. Read the original here.
No comments:
Post a Comment