In an Instagram post<\/a> shared Wednesday, the Committee announced its relaunch \u201cto stand against repression, industry complicity, and intimidation.\u201d<\/p>\n The 87-year-old Oscar winner and prominent activist <\/a>penned a personal letter to the Hollywood community sharing her reasoning for reconvening the committee.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I feel scared, I look to history,\u201d Fonda wrote in the letter obtained by CNN. \u201cI wish there were a secret playbook with all the answers \u2013 but there never has been.\u201d She went on to highlight the importance of solidarity and \u201cbinding together, finding bravery in numbers too big to ignore, and standing up for one another.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why I believe the time is now to relaunch the Committee for the First Amendment \u2013 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.\u201d<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Jane Fonda has already received support from more than 550 A-listers in her fight to protect free speech (Getty Images)<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the newly reformed committee told CNN that Fonda felt compelled to reconvene the group in response to \u201cthe onslaught of attacks on free speech from the current administration.\u201d She hopes to create a \u201cunited front against government censorship, intimidation, and fear.\u201d<\/p>\n Fonda has already gained the support of more than 550 celebrities and industry workers, including Pedro Pascal<\/a>, Whoopi Goldberg<\/a>, Billie Eilish, Quinta Brunson, Kerry Washington, Natalie Portman, Aaron Sorkin, Spike Lee, Viola Davis, and Ben Stiller.<\/p>\n Other high-profile signatories included Sean Penn, John Legend, Helen Mirren, Julianne Moore, Janelle Monae, Barbra Streisand, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Gracie Abrams, Ethan Hawke, Judd Apatow, Lena Dunham, and Rosie O\u2019Donnell.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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,\u201d per the Committee\u2019s website<\/a>. \u201cThose forces have returned. And it is our turn to stand together in defense of our constitutional rights.\u201d<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Jimmy Kimmel was recently suspended from ABC following comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk (Disney)<\/p>\n It added: \u201cWe refuse to stand by and let that happen. Free speech and free expression are the inalienable rights of every American of all backgrounds and political beliefs \u2014 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.\u201d<\/p>\n The campaign relaunch comes as fears mount nationwide over the crackdown on free speech<\/a>. <\/p>\n Just last month, Jimmy Kimmel\u2019s late-night talk show was reinstated after a brief suspension due to on-air comments he made related to the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk<\/a>.<\/p>\n Kimmel\u2019s suspension was immediately met with an outpouring of support from politicians and celebrities<\/a> alike, who warned it was an \u201cattack on free speech.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn\u2019t like,\u201d former President Barack Obama wrote on X at the time.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Stephen Colbert\u2019s show\u2019s end was announced earlier this year (Jimmy Kimmel Live)<\/p>\n \u201cThis is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent \u2014 and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it.\u201d<\/p>\n Kimmel\u2019s suspension came months after CBS said it would be ending its Late Night franchise<\/a>, currently hosted by Stephen Colbert, in May 2026. The shocking news came days after Colbert called out the network\u2019s parent company, Paramount, for its $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump<\/a>. <\/p>\n While CBS insisted the decision to axe Colbert was purely financial, multiple staff members told The Independent <\/a>they weren\u2019t buying the network\u2019s claims. Instead, many felt it was a continuation of the \u201cTrump shakedown settlement.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI absolutely love that Colbert got fired,\u201d Trump later gloated on Truth Social<\/a>. \u201cHis talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Jane](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Jane-Fonda.jpeg\")
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