Jane Fonda revives Cold War-era activist group following Jimmy Kimmel suspension

Drawing on her rich personal history and activism, Jane Fonda has breathed new life into a Cold War-era activist group that was supported by her legendary father, Henry Fonda.

Jane Fonda recently shared that she has reestablished a modern version of the Committee for the First Amendment, which was originally created in 1947 as a response to Congressional hearings targeting directors and screenwriters like the so-called “Hollywood Ten” due to their alleged connections to Communism. The mission statement of this new organization has garnered signatures from notable figures including Florence Pugh, Sean Penn, Billie Eilish, Pedro Pascal, along with numerous others.

This announcement follows recent events, including Jimmy Kimmel’s temporary suspension from ABC, which resulted from comments he made following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. At that time, calls for his dismissal even came from former President Donald Trump.

In part, the committee’s mission statement declares: “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.”

“We will not be passive while this unfolds. The rights to free speech and expression are inherent to every American, regardless of their political beliefs—be they liberal or conservative. The ability to criticize, question, protest, and even jest at those in authority is central to the ideals America has long upheld.”

The Fondas have both been deeply involved in activism throughout their lives; Jane’s opposition to the Vietnam War and Henry’s support for Democratic candidates, such as John F. Kennedy, for whom he starred in a campaign ad in 1960, exemplify their commitment.

Henry Fonda, who passed away in 1982, was part of the original First Amendment committee alongside accomplished figures such as Humphrey Bogart, John Huston, Lucille Ball, and Frank Sinatra. Despite significant media attention, the committee faced numerous challenges and had a relatively brief existence.

Some members, including Bogart, eventually found themselves accused of having Communist sympathies, expressing surprise that a few of the Hollywood Ten, such as screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, had indeed been members of the Communist Party at various points in their lives.

By the following year, Bogart had written an essay for Photoplay magazine titled “I’m No Communist,” in which he shared his views that “actors and actresses always go overboard about things,” cautioning against being “exploited as pawns by Communist organizations.”

Trumbo and several members of the Hollywood Ten faced jail time for choosing not to comply with Congress, subsequently becoming blacklisted through the late 1950s and beyond.