Back in 1972, when the United States was still mired in the hugely unpopular war in Vietnam, actress and anti-war activist Jane Fonda was ostracized for visiting communist North Vietnam, where she was photographed seated on a tank and spoke out against U.S. involvement in the conflict. Thereafter labelled “Hanoi Jane,” many accused her of treason, while others lauded her anti-war outspokenness at a time when organized protests against our involvement were rampant.

Fonda survived the years of castigation, and has never changed her “peacenik” views. She followed in the footsteps of the many Hollywood acting legends, such as Henry Fonda (her father), Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and others who had formed a Committee for the First Amendment 25 years earlier to combat the excesses of McCarthyism.

And now Fonda is bringing back their Committee in hopes of combatting the enemy in yet another internal war against the illegal, unconstitutional actions of an extreme right-wing administration in Washington.

Calling this “the most frightening moment of my life,” she shared with CNN a letter she has written to the Hollywood community, asking her peers to join her:

“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. But I can tell you this: this is the most frightening moment of my life.

“When I feel scared, I look to history. I wish there were a secret playbook with all the answers — but there never has been.” [Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, October 1, 2025.]

She continued, underscoring the importance of solidarity and “binding together, finding bravery in numbers too big to ignore, and standing up for one another.

“That’s why I believe the time is now to relaunch the Committee for the First Amendment — the same Committee my father, Henry Fonda, joined with other artists during the McCarthy era, when so many were silenced or even imprisoned simply for their words and their craft.

“The stakes are too high, and silence is too costly. They’re betting on our fear and our silence. But our industry — and artists around the world — have a long history of refusing to be silenced, even in the darkest times.” [Id.]

Thus far, more than 550 Hollywood notables have joined the Committee, including Barbra Streisand, Glenn Close, John Legend, Rob Reiner, Rosie O’Donnell, Sean Penn, Spike Lee, Whoopi Goldberg . . . and too many more to name. In a statement by a spokesperson for the Committee, they said that Fonda’s hope was to address “the onslaught of attacks on free speech from the current administration” by putting on a “united front against government censorship, intimidation, and fear.” [Id.]

The statement continued:

“Free speech and free expression are the inalienable rights of every American of all backgrounds and political beliefs — no matter how liberal or conservative you may be. The ability to criticize, question, protest, and even mock those in power is foundational to what America has always aspired to be.” [Id.]

Back in 1972, I wasn’t sure how I felt about “Hanoi Jane.” On the one hand, I admired her courage in speaking out for her convictions; while on the other hand, I did not approve of her visit to North Vietnam.

But that was a different era, and a different fight. You have to give props to an 87-year-old who still, half a century later, stands by her beliefs, and has the courage to fight the good fight.

And what she believes in is a United States of America that adheres to the principles of the founding fathers who drafted and signed the Constitution that has stood us in such good stead for nearly 250 years.

I can’t fault her for that.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/2/25