Jane Fonda Red Scare Committee Rebooted
- On October 2, 2019, Jane Fonda and over 500 other entertainment professionals relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment, citing concerns over what they perceived as a suppression...
- The Committee for the First amendment was initially established in 1947 as a direct response to the Red Scare, a period of intense anti-communist suspicion in the United...
- The committee's relaunch in 2019 stemmed from a statement released on its website, expressing concern over what members described as a "coordinated campaign to silence critics" within the...
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The Committee for the First Amendment Relaunches to Counter Perceived Trump-Era Repression
Origins During the Red Scare
On October 2, 2019, Jane Fonda and over 500 other entertainment professionals relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment, citing concerns over what they perceived as a suppression of free speech during the Donald Trump governance.Fonda and others saw parallels between the current political climate and the ancient context that led to the committee’s original formation.
The Committee for the First amendment was initially established in 1947 as a direct response to the Red Scare, a period of intense anti-communist suspicion in the United States. Founding members included prominent figures like Gene Kelly, Humphrey Bogart, and Lauren Bacall, who sought to defend the rights of individuals in the entertainment industry facing scrutiny for their political beliefs. The committee actively challenged the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and its investigations into alleged communist influence in Hollywood.
Concerns Under the Trump Administration
The committee’s relaunch in 2019 stemmed from a statement released on its website, expressing concern over what members described as a “coordinated campaign to silence critics” within the government, media, judiciary, academia, and entertainment industry. The statement specifically referenced perceived attacks on free speech emanating from the Trump administration.
The committee argued that the rights to free speech and expression were “inalienable” and should be protected regardless of an individual’s political affiliation. This position reflects the committee’s original commitment to defending the First Amendment rights of all Americans, even those with unpopular or controversial views. The relaunch signaled a renewed effort to safeguard these rights in a political climate perceived as increasingly hostile to dissent.